The three models of the Micro-Controlled Educational Electrocardiograph, which are currently patent-pending by the University of Granada, are the first module of a Computerized System of Physiology Teaching, which will be useful for all those students of courses related to Health Sciences, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Biology and Sport Sciences. Likewise, according to the persons in charge of the project, it will benefit all the students of Secondary School or Vocational Training courses related to Health Sciences.
The electrocardiograph, which registers electric currents emanated from heart, is part of a modern system of data acquisition essential to carry out quality practices. For example, in the practice of exercise physiology, automated measures of parameters like electrocardiograph, pulse, air flow, skin temperature, etc., are necessary.
According to Professor Eugenio Martín Cuenca, of the Department of Animal Biology and Ecology of the University of Granada, thanks to technological advances, practical teaching of Biology is possible by means of modern systems: “During years of Animal Physiology teaching –he says– we have encountered the problem of the lack of laboratory instruments due to their high cost. In addition, practice groups include a high amount of students (about 25). It all requires laboratory instruments, which makes it impossible to have a modern and appropriate equipment to carry out the practices individually.”
Martín Cuenca assures that: “According to our experience, every functional group should be made up of 4 or 5 students at the most to carry out quality practices. As the fact is that every group is made up of about 25 students, we encounter 4 or 5 functional groups in a practice session. Therefore, if we want to carry out a practice instead of a demonstration, it is necessary to have 5 full equipments for the 5 functional groups to develop their work correctly.”
The high cost of the systems available and the fact that there is not, so far, any home-produced system which meets the ordinary of Physiology laboratories, have determined the design, construction and programming of these devices. According to Professor Martín Cuenca “one of the research lines of the work group of Bioengineering and Bioinspired Robotics” is the design of teaching materials to use it in the practices of Applied Animal Physiology, both in the Biological Sciences degree or in any other related degree, like Health Sciences or Physical Education.”
Further information:
Eugenio Martín Cuenca. Department of Animal Biology and Ecology.
Phone number: 958 246167 – E-mail:emartin@ugr.es
