Lending a hand has taken on an entirely new meaning in Alicia Anania and Micaile Smith’s science classes. The teachers have joined forces to teach their students about the human body. Their goal was to make it more relatable. The dynamic duo is now taking their lessons several steps farther.

Instead of just teaching anatomy from a book, they’ve incorporated 3-D printing at the NSU University School Media Center to show students how to produce prosthetic human hands. Students are learning about the movement and functionality of the hand while, at the same time, gaining a greater understanding and empathy for those who need prosthetics.

The USchool students will soon meet with military veterans who have faced a hand amputation following combat. Students are also working with e-NABLE to establish a donation pathway. They are determined to give back, providing prosthetic hands to veterans and children in underdeveloped countries around the world.

“Through this project, we’ve seen amazing growth in our students’ understanding of how locomotion happens,” said Smith. “We’re now starting to study legs and movement in animals like sea turtles.”

Anania pointed out, “They take great pride in knowing that someone’s life will change with these prosthetic hands. They’re looking at ways to cushion them to make them more comfortable, too.”

This is more than a lesson in anatomy. Smith explains that mastery in coding and other STEM-related skills is essential to creating hands that move on command. Both teachers and the NSU University School community are looking ahead to the development of limitless teaching opportunities at the school’s Center for Innovation now under development. For more information about the Center for Innovation kindly contact Dr. Susanne Marshall at 954-262-3014 or msusanne@nova.edu.