By: J. Harold “Jim” Logan, BPS, EMT-P/IC
unique educational
A unique educationall
i i Tennessee—
experience in T
complete with cadavers—
brought all the domains of
learning together
Larry Coleman was my high school
history teacher. Back then I wasn’t
easily impressed or inspired when
it came to education. But Mr.
Coleman taught differently than
what I’d been exposed to before.
52 OCTOBER 2009 EMS www.emsresponder.com
cadaver lab
Keep in mind, this was before the Vidacare Corp. and Precision
PowerPoint, SMART Board and Surgical, the local distributor of
videoconferenced guest lectures from Vidacare’s EZ-IO intraosseous
subject matter experts. Mr. Coleman infusion system, TEMSEA was
had a chalkboard, handouts and a able to take conference partici-
textbook. History and government pants into the classroom of the
can be boring subjects, especially for future.
a group of 17-year-olds. Mr. Coleman Now, cadaver labs and autop-
realized this, and instead of sitting sies are nothing new as teaching
behind his desk or standing at the tools in medicine. However, in
chalkboard with a pointer, he engaged EMS, opportunities to participate
his students—he performed. Think in such events don’t come around
historical recreations—standing on very often. Even when they do,
the desk, reciting a famous oration they’re frequently “look but don’t
by Kennedy or Lincoln, bringing tired touch” types of situations, held
textbooks to life with engaging tactics in conjunction with conferences
that gave his students glimpses into at major universities or off-site
historical events and made the hospitals. Attendance is usually
contents of the text veritably jump limited by a small number of
off the page. Thank you, Mr. Coleman. available seats. TEMSEA leaders
EMS providers can be similarly realized this and wondered
difficult students to reach. They are how they could take this type
some of the hardest people in the of instructional tool to the next
world to impress and inspire. Most of level.
that is because they’ve seen so many They assembled a team and
things most folks haven’t. As well, began planning. Within a few
many EMSers are “Type A” person- months, TEMSEA educators found
alities: intense, competitive and themselves at the University of
impatient. In their off time, they’re Texas Health Science Center in
often involved in activities most folks San Antonio. There, under the
wouldn’t want to be a part of. guidance of EMS educator Scotty
And EMS educators are worse. Bolleter, the idea of a procedural
They’ve been there, done that, and anatomy lab came to fruition, and
now are teaching it. As they mold we began the process of creating
young minds, educators may fall into an experience that would impress
a rut, using the same old methods