University of Jamestown Physical Therapy Program

The first Brain Awareness Week put on by University of Jamestown Physical Therapy students was very successful. We visited a variety of student classrooms ranging from an after school fitness program, a daycare program, and school classrooms of 4th-7th grade students. We used a class period length presentation with goals of introducing the students to neuroscience and some of the cool things the brain does and thus helping them understand the importance of keeping this important organ safe and healthy by using their brain, exercise, and wearing a helmet and being tested for concussions. Volunteers had the opportunity to tailor presentations to class interest and needs and were prepared with a variety of activities including: balance and vestibular systems activities and discussion points, having the class “build a neuron” by holding hands and releasing “neurotransmitter” to send a signal, learning activities like bean bag toss with light refractive goggles, sensory and motor innervation activities, aging games, and brain models to show where things are happening and what might happen if a certain area is injured. Classes received coloring pages and activity books to continue learning later on. It was also valuable to introduce students to the fact that physical therapists treat more than just sports or musculoskeletal injuries and that it is wide field that helps a variety of different patients, including those with neurological deficits. We hope that students gained new knowledge and appreciation for physical therapy, the brain and neuroscience, and may be more likely to pursue a career in science or just take care of their own brain and body as they age.

I believe BAW benefited our organization by making us more visible in the community and educated students on what we do as Physical Therapists. We taught them that PTs can work with the brain and do more than they might normally think. It benefitted the local community by educating students on the brain and how to keep it safe. It hopefully got students excited about neuroscience and will make them more likely to pursue scientific careers.

In the future I would like to stick to one grade or make sure that it is more uniform which classrooms we are visiting. It was difficult being the first year getting teachers to allow us to come. I would like it to be an annual program that kids look forward to going into a certain grade and I would like it to match up better with their curriculum if they talk about the brain and human body so they have some more background knowledge and ability to come up with more questions for us.