Dean Zollman

KSUPER Seminar

Monday, January 31, 2011

2:30 p.m.

Cardwell 220

Teaching about the Physics of Medical Imaging:  Examples of Research-based Teaching Materials

Even before the discovery of X-rays, attempts at non-invasive medical imaging required an understanding of fundamental principles of physics.  Students frequently do not see these connections because they are not taught in beginning physics courses.  To help students understand that physics and medical imaging are closely connected, we have developed a series of active learning units.  For each unit we begin by studying how students transfer their knowledge from traditional physics classes and everyday experiences to the medical applications.  Then, we build instructional materials to take advantage of the students ability to use their existing learning and knowledge resources.  Each of learning units involves a combination of hands-on activities, which present analogies, and interactive computer simulations.  Our learning units introduce students to the contemporary imaging techniques of CT Scans, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), and wavefront aberrometry.  In addition we are developing a unit on Alexander Graham Bell’s attempt in 1881 to find a bullet in US President James Garfield. The project’s Web site is http://web.phys.ksu.edu/mmmm/.   * Supported by the US National Science Foundation under grant DUE 04-27645.