Professor’s Tool Kit Helps Students Learn

Zay-o, me say za-a-ay-o; test time come and me wan go home.

Peter Zao’s North Idaho College students suffered in silence, but he could hear the pitiful refrain rolling through their brains. They needed help in his anatomy and physiology class.

They ranged from new high school graduates ready for college to older students who hadn’t sat in a classroom for 30 years. How could he reach everyone?

Computers.

Peter wanted a program that would offer students practice tests and instant feedback on their answers. Students have to put information together to arrive at correct test answers. If they’re wrong, they need to know where their logic is flawed.

“There was nothing. It was either live with it or come up with something on my own,” the 40-year-old teacher said.

Following directions on a write-yourown program package, Peter entered the most troublesome test questions from past classes in the computer. Each answer option includes a reason why it was right or wrong. He also included all the class notes.

He made the program easy for students to use - just point and click a mouse - and made it available in NIC’s computer lab. Test scores improved quickly.

The program impressed a national textbook publisher, who picked up Peter’s A & P Tool Kit (for “Anatomy and Physiology,” not “Atlantic and Pacific.”)

A few months ago, it hit college bookstores all over the nation. Now, Peter is working on an improved version.

“Every time I look at it, I think of something else to add,” he said as he skillfully manipulated the mouse.

To the Tool Kit, he’s added an encyclopedia, an audio pronunciation guide using his wife’s voice, videos of lab procedures and pictures of cross sections of hearts and other body parts.

“It’s really neat to see students use it, see improvement,” he said, smiling. “But I couldn’t do it without teaching. If I didn’t teach, how would I know what students need?”

Someone cares

Sadly, 294 cases of child abuse were reported in Kootenai County last year, with 13,592 reported statewide. When is the pain going to stop, folks?

Idaho Child Abuse Response is trying to help by training volunteers as mentors for parents who have abused or think they might abuse their children.

Next time you see Tim Westfall, Lynn and Stephen Colwell, Monica Karst, Peg Sanborn or Gail Jensen, shake their hands. They’re ICARE’s newest parent aide volunteers.

Want to join the movement? Call 666-2930.

Earth dance

Saturday is the day to get down and kiss the ground you walk on. It’s Earth Day - or did you forget?

Sandpoint didn’t. It’s celebrating Earth Day on Friday night with a family dance at the Sandpoint Community Hall. The Coeur d’Alene Marimba Band will pound out tunes to stir anyone’s feet. Tickets are $5 for adults and $1 for children. Call 264-5076.

Lifesavers

Marlene Rajkovich and Blaise Koep just wanted to get back home last month after several days in Pocatello, Idaho, with the Post Falls High School pep band. But an ice storm blew in and sent the bus careering down the bank of a cloverleaf interchange.

Marlene’s driving skill kept the bus from rolling, and Blaise calmed her and the shaken-up students before hitting the road again.

Both won praise last week from the Post Falls School Board. Sounds as if they should be the next guest speakers in the drivers training classes.

Fields of dreams

Where are the spring gardens as wildly colorful as finger paintings? Send names, descriptions, directions or photos to Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene 83814; send a fax to 765-7149; or call 765-7128. Do it before they wilt.