Kewanee Schools Foundation
Enhancing Education Through Giving

Anatomy Table

ANATOMY TABLE ADDS MUSCLE TO LEARNING

By Susan DeVilder

The Star Courier

The Kewanee School District is the proud owner of a new teaching tool, a fully-segmented real human 3D anatomy system that allows students to visualize anatomy exactly how it would look on a fresh cadaver.

This cutting-edge piece of classroom technology allows students to rotate the human body 360 degrees, take it apart, identify specific structures and look at multiple views at the same time.

The Anatomage Table was added to the Kewanee High School science lab and purchased by the Kewanee Schools Foundation through the Dr. Frances Horler Trust. Horler was a 1927 graduate of KHS, who left a $2.1 million bequest from her estate to the foundation to be used for academic excellence.

The idea to bring the table to the high school started when an email from KHS teacher Charley Eads containing information about the anatomy table piqued the interest of KHS science teacher, Kelly Ellerbrock. Intrigued, Ellerbrock passed the information along to the principal until it ended up in the hands of Supt. Christopher Sullens.

The table is about seven feet long and can be displayed horizontally or vertically. The touch screen feature makes it interactive, said Ellebrock, and it has multiple classroom applications. Not only can the table be used for introductory lessons, lectures and assessments, but students are able to use the equipment to perform activities like laboratory practicals and testing.

“It brings the whole experience to life,” said Ellerbrock. “There are so many opportunities for this.”

The table is located in the new addition at the high school that includes a new science lab. Ellerbrock said the investment by the school district into science is needed.

“If we are honest, if you look at the careers that still have a job, especially during COVID, it’s the medical field,” she said.

This new virtual table, she believes, will give students exposure to the technology at a high school level and make them more comfortable with science. The KHS table is one of only seven tables being used in high school classrooms across the state.

     

       Kewanee High School Students explore anatomy using the district’s latest technology acquisition. From left: Kevin VanWassenhove,              Walkyr Peed, science teacher Kelly Ellerbrock, Natalie Lopez and Delaney Reynolds. The table was purchased by the Kewanee Schools        Foundation through the Dr. Frances Horler Trust.