The work of radiologists today is very different from what it was only one generation ago. New medical breakthroughs and technology have made a great impact in the area of radiology. Today’s youth are not aware of what is going on in this important area and how they might fit into it. They lack information of the broad world of work in medicine and specifically in the area of medical imaging. These students have very little, if any, contact with the actual work experiences and hands on experiences. They have not given much thought to appraising themselves in terms of their abilities to fit into specific career areas. They have not been exposed to decision making processes in previous school experiences.
To address these needs, educators must assume a great deal of the responsibility to provide a curriculum which will offer students various learning experiences.
It is our aim to develop a curriculum on Conventional Radiology, Tomography and Their Biological Effects. This curriculum will be geared toward students in grades six through eight with a strong interest and motivation to deal with math, science, and computer concepts.
Curriculum development is a continuous process and must be, if we are to provide skills and career education for students in the world of work. More direction should be given to understanding self and developing positive attitudes toward work.
Medical Imaging is a field that is not new, but has taken on a new image because of new medical research and breakthroughs. Come and discover the science of radiography with us.
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Marcella—Many people are talking about medical imaging. All of this stuff is enough to blow your mind. I feel as though I am Rip Van Winkle—I must have slept through a generation.
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Carolyn—Yes Marcella, there has been a great change in the area of medical imaging. It is about time we wake up and investigate some of these changes.
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Marcella—Where do we start? There is so much to talk about.
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Carolyn—Marcella, why don’t we take a look at conventional radiography first, then tomography and, last but not least, their biological effects.
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Marcella—That’s great! Who will go first?
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Carolyn—Well, since I’ve been around longer, perhaps I’ll talk first.
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Marcella—Carolyn, I thought you might say that.
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Carolyn—Well Marcella, why don’t you sit back and observe as we discover together some facts about conventional radiography.
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I guess a good way for me to start is by defining a radiograph. Marcella do you know that a radiograph is a visible photographic record on film produced by the passage of x-rays through an object or body?
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Marcella—Carolyn, then a radiograph makes it possible to study the inner structure of the human body.
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Carolyn—Yes, x-rays can penetrate body tissues, they have a photographic effect and they cause certain substances to fluoresce (light up) making the object under examination more visible.
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Marcella—Carolyn, do you know that new developments are making the procedure even safer and more effective—producing clearer radiographs with less exposure to radiation?
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Carolyn—Marcella, that’s great.
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Marcella—When you finish with the discussion on x-rays, let me talk about their biological effects.
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Carolyn—Marcella that’s a deal!
