Questions to Prepare for the Exhibition

Organ System Model

Discuss your organ system
-What organ system are you modelling?
A: We are modelling the muscular and skeletal system. Specifically, we are modeling the
skeletal muscle and bones and hinges of the arm.
-What are the functions of your organ system?
A: The muscular system allows movement in the body, such as waving, sitting down,
standing up. (answer in presentation)
Discuss your model
-What function(s) does your model demonstrate? How does it demonstrate each function?
A: Our model first demonstrates how muscles work in pairs, demonstrated by the balloons on the
humerus representing the bicep and tricep. With other balloons, we loosely showcase the muscle
structure of the anterior forearm. This is more of a visual demonstration than a working one, as a
true forearm has more than two muscles in the anterior view. Lastly, our model shows how
fingers move (anterior view). Fingers all have tendons which join up at the carpals. By pulling on
the rubber bands attached to our carpals, we cause the tendons to pull on the bones, which
in turn moves the fingers. Our model also demonstrates the movement of a hinge joint and how
the bones of the arm work in correlation to the muscles.
What functions of your organ system are not demonstrated by your model? If you had
unlimited time and resources, how would you demonstrate these functions?
A: We have only shown few of the functions of the muscular and skeletal system. We have
not demonstrated anything to do with cardiac muscle, found only in the heart. Its function is to
pump blood out and make sure it circulates throughout the body. Since it is the heart muscle, we
would have to make make a model of the heart to show functions such as how the muscle
contraction is related with the blood flow in the heart. We have also not modelled smooth
muscles, the ones with involuntary movement. To demonstrate this, we could possibly model the
digestive system and how the smooth muscles in it play a role in churning and breaking down
the food. As for the skeletal system, we really have not portrayed how it supports the body and
protects the organs. With unlimited resources, it would be amazing to build a full human model
to show how it supports the body in its entirety. We could also build a model of the ribs to show
how they protect the lungs and heart from damage.
What scientific principles did you need to understand in order to build your model?
A: We first needed to learn how skeletal muscles worked in general, from how they work in
pairs, to how they are connected to the bone. We also needed to know the basic method how the
tendons in the fingers move in an actual human body to portray it in our model.
Show your model in action
Discuss the design process

-How did you come up with ideas?

A: Because both groups decided to work together, we knew we needed to choose a type of
model that fit both our needs. Therefore, we decided to model an arm, since it showed both the
purpose of the skeletal system and muscular system and clear to show on exhibition Afterwards,
we had a brainstorming session to determine how our model was to be made. Through those
ideas, we sketched a rough draft and built a crude model. After building started, we just added
on to the model when someone had a new, probable idea. No idea was ever shot down without a
reason or trial.

How did your group decide on the ideas/plan that resulted in your model?
A: After brainstorming and talking for a session, we could all come to agreement as to
which ideas we wanted to use and which model we wanted to build. There was really no conflict,
every decision had to get approval from the group.
-What ideas were considered and then dismissed? Why were they dismissed?
A: There was an idea to use duct tape to represent the tendons on the bicep and tricep,
Initially, we did use duct tape to perform the function. This idea was dismissed because it made
the model not look professional and as if we did not put much thought into it. It was also not
aesthetically pleasing and didnt perform its function very well.
- What problems did you face in the design process and how did you solve them?
A: We were a bit slow on the building of the models, but we were able to use that time to
properly plan our build so that we waste no resources. There were also many unknown variables
when we went into building the model. What we knew and wanted was not exactly enough to
create a fully functional model, so there was plenty of redesigning and rebuilding throughout the
course of the project.
How many times did you have to redesign/test/improve?
A: We constantly were redesigning, testing, and improving our model. The current model
we have is tremendously larger and complex than the initial model we designed. Once we
finished what we thought was the final step, the model never seemed to be complete. And that
sense of pride and completion is what we were fighting for.
Discuss collaboration
Who did what in your group?
A: Our group worked on a voluntary basis, so everyones touch is somewhere in the
project. For example, Michael and Rick attached the joint, Max brought the balloons, Sam and
Amritha made the clay muscle models, Rick made the bone model, and Amritha also put a
gloved hand on the model. These are just a few examples of what people did in our group. We all
worked on the presentation at some point.
How did each member of the group contribute? How did you decide who would do what?

A: We didnt have set jobs, we just did what needed to be done with whoever wanted to do
it. In the end, we all found a way to contribute. Basically, our group operated on a
voluntary system.
Did you leverage strengths and talents of people in your group or was it random or
volunteer basis?
A: Our group fully functioned on voluntary basis, even though it threw off the balance of
workload per person.
Discuss Process Management Michael
How was the work managed in your group? Was there a leader? Did you choose a leader?
How?
A: There wasnt really a leader, the work was done by whoever volunteered to do it.
How did you communicate with each other about ideas and logistics of building the model?
A: We spoke to each other in class. Each idea had a doubt, so we had a lot to discuss
about most of the time.
How did you resolve disagreements?
A: We did not have many disagreements, but light conflicts were solved through
compromise and open communication. Though communication was often a struggle, it was
necessary to keep it as open as possible for the success of our project.
Relate to the real world
How could what you learned during this project, your model, the concepts used in your model or
the design and building process relate to/contribute to/help a real life situation?
A: Though our model cannot be used as a real arm, similar ideas we used in our project can be
used to create a prosthetic arm, even though prosthetic arms generally dont contain muscle
substitutions.

Dialysis Video
Discuss your video
What aspect(s) of dialysis does your video demonstrate? How does it demonstrate each
aspect?
A: It demonstrates how the dialyzer acts as an artificial kidney.
What aspects of your organ system are not demonstrated by your model? If you had
unlimited time and resources, how would you demonstrate these functions?
A: Michael, you were tired when you wrote this werent you.
What scientific principles did you need to understand in order to make your video?
A: absolutely none.

Show your video

Discuss the production process
How did you come up with ideas?
A: We were screwing around on the internet
How did your group decide on the ideas/plan that resulted in your video?
A: No one really disagreed, we just went with it.
What ideas were considered and then dismissed? Why were they dismissed?
A: We thought about making the video more serious, but we decided not to because that
would be boring.
Are you satisfied with the content and artistic quality of your video?
A: Yes.
How did you deal with ideas that you tried but did not work?
A: We threw em out
How many times did you have to revise/improve?
A: many times, we wanted it to have the information, but not drown it in idiocy.
Discuss collaboration
Who did what in your group?
A: Max edited the thing, Michael narrorated, Rick filmed and Garrett was a hand model.
How did each member of the group contribute? How did you decide who would do what?
A: We immediately decided that Max would be the editor because of his glorious editing
talents. The other people didnt have much of a priority so we just spread out the work
Did you leverage strengths and talents of people in your group or was it random or
volunteer basis?
A: It was pretty random, except for Max and his superhuman computer editing abilities.
Discuss Process Management
How was the work managed in your group? Was there a leader? Did you choose a leader?
How?
A: We didnt really manage or lead much at all.
How did you communicate with each other about ideas and logistics of making the video?
A: We didnt communicate much at all.
How did you resolve disagreements?

A: We didnt disagree much at all.

Relate to the real world
How could what you learned during this project, your video, the concepts used in your video or
the planning or production process relate to/contribute to/help a real life situation?
A: If I ever lose a kidney or two, I would know what to do.