When biological tissue is going to be imaged, we have to take it out of the body (which has systems providing nutrients to keep the tissue alive). So that the tissue doesn’t degrade, or rot, we have to attempt to use preservatives. In the laboratory we call these fixatives. They are like the preservatives that keep your food from spoiling. The problem is that not all fixatives work the same, and researchers have to find out that the fixatives do not change the chemical, magnetic, or physical aspects of the tissue being analyzed. Researchers must be sure their results are true as they make scientific findings. Students will get the chance to design a fixative to preserve tissue.
Fixing What? TEK8 Student Handout
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
Fixing What? Facilitator’s Guide
This Facilitator’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.