9351841 Kolkhorst The acquisition and unique configuration of modern instructional equipment will expand and strengthen the students' experience in the undergraduate physiology of exercise laboratory at the University of Northern Iowa resulting in a higher order of understanding of basic human physiological principles. The design of this proposal is two- fold: a) to promote active learning by the students through individualized and small group investigation and b) to provide instrumentation enabling students to study several fundamental exercise physiology principles that cannot be investigated with the current equipment. The primary instruments in this request, a metabolic measurement system with several available options, and five networked personal computer work stations, will facilitate more active learning by students as compared to traditional presentations in exercise physiology laboratories. The configuration of the peripheral work stations will provide for a "hands-on" approach to understanding exercise physiology by allowing for the observation and investigation of laboratory problems by an individual or small groups of students either in scheduled laboratories or out-of-class projects. Also, the metabolic measurement system will provide experiences for our students not normally examined in an undergraduate laboratory but integral to the study of exercise physiology. Specifically, students will be able to test the effects of exercise on myocardial function and arterial oxygen saturation as well as investigate real-time changes in energy metabolism as exercise intensity is varied. Furthermore, sensitivity and precision of metabolic measurements will be improved from the present system. The enhancements in the laboratory will foster a direct problem-solving approach to the learning process and be reflected in the students' increased comprehension of scientific principles, concepts, and methods. ***
