TAMC’s fish tank project
benefits students, patients
PRESQUE ISLE — A unique collaboration between TAMC and the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center’s (PIRCTC) aquaculture class will benefit both students and TAMC staff and patients. TAMC’s emergency department recently installed a 55-gallon fish tank in the department, which aquaculture students will maintain as part of their class.
Photo courtesy of TAMC
STUDENTS ENROLLED in the Presque Isle Regional Career and Technical Center’s aquaculture class take a moment to pose for a photo with the new fish tank they installed in the new entrance area to the TAMC emergency department. Students taking part in the challenge to design the fish tank were, from left: Harvey Higgins, Heather Nadeau, Alex Hemphill, Jocelyn Hewey, Matthew Tilley, Samantha Simmonds, Hillary Hartsgrove and Michael Donovan.
TAMC Facility Engineer Timothy Doak approached Shelly Gross, PIRCTC aquaculture instructor, and informed her of the new fish tank to be installed in the emergency department and inquired whether she and her class would be interested in taking part.
“[She] was very interested, and this quickly grew into a project,” said Doak.
Part of the project involved utilizing both the students’ knowledge and creativity by offering them a chance to design a tank. Eight students ranging from grades 10 through 12 are enrolled in the aquaculture class, and according to Gross, the design project and subsequent offers from students to help maintain the tank moving forward fit well into the mission of a Career and Technical Education (CTE) school.
“CTE is all about gaining skills that will carry over into real life. I cannot think of a better opportunity to do so,” said Gross.
Gross tasked students with designing a dream aquarium during the first half of the year, which required them to choose a size, shape and style, along with the types of fish in their aquarium. Gross said that, after making these choices, students concentrated on designing the hardware of the aquarium, including lighting, filtration, substrate, decorations, plants, medicines and maintenance equipment relative to their design. With an established design, students then calculated the cost of electricity to operate under those conditions and provided a final cost for everything required to manifest their design.
“The Dream Aquarium Project was the perfect background requirement for the kids to be able to design the emergency department’s tank,” said Gross. “They have to focus on a tank that is low maintenance, has fish that are compatible with each other, is aesthetically pleasing, and meets a realistic budget.”
Students created designs for freshwater tropical fish. Gross used the project as the students’ final exam grade, since it was a comprehensive activity that utilized knowledge gained throughout the year.
“Initially the class provided guidance on what type of tank and filtration equipment to purchase. Once the equipment was in, the class made a field trip to TAMC and set up the tank and all of the equipment for us,” said Doak.
Students interviewed Doak to gather information regarding preferences in design, and also visited the emergency department while it was under construction to establish the tank. Students cleaned the tank, installed the substrate, filled it with water, and set up the filtration system.
To choose the design, Doak arranged a small panel of TAMC employees who heard presentations by students on their unique ideas. Each student had to “sell their design” to the panel, according to Gross, in hopes that the panel would choose their creation.
In addition to enhancing class material through a hands-on project, Gross said the presentation piece was also the perfect opportunity for students to practice their public speaking skills.
Regarding the students’ designs, Gross said they “have been thought out with wonderful attention to detail.”
“I have seen such growth in this group over the past year,” she said. “As an instructor, it is very rewarding to see skills and information that I have shared with them come to play in a real-life scenario.”
The students presented their designs to Doak, Christine Quirion and James McKenney earlier this month, and these TAMC employees brought the presentations back to show the emergency department staff, who selected a winner. Doak, Quirion and McKenney returned to the class to announce the winner before the school year ended.
“The students had obviously put a great deal of time into this project, as evidenced by the well thought-out and presented concepts,” said Doak. “We will be displaying all of the concept boards in our emergency department waiting area for the next few weeks.”
Emergency department staff chose junior Heather Nadeau’s design for the fish tank.
“There were five design boards completed in all. Each one was unique, and had individual elements that were interesting. The students had all given this a great deal of thought, and it was very difficult to choose a winner,” said Doak. “Staff voted on the boards, and by a single vote the winning board was created by Heather.”
According to Doak, Nadeau’s design board met all of the major criteria that the students were asked to use in their design, such as the tank is calm and relaxing, the fish and other amenities are low maintenance, and the project is within the established budget.
“Ms. Nadeau’s design used all live plants, which stay clean and do not accumulate algae, and fish which are not excitable and that were chosen for compatibility. The several species of fish she selected included three different kinds of algae eaters, which will help keep the tank clean,” said Doak. “The overall concept was also very much in line with the other design concepts for the renovation project, which work to bring nature inside through the use of natural light, earth-tone colors, fabric with leaf patterns, and artwork of native flowers.”
“Heather put a lot of thought into her design. She kept three things in mind: budget, low maintenance and a calming effect,” said Gross. “She also wanted to incorporate the colors that the new emergency department was painted in, so she used primarily green plants with yellow and white fish.”
Nadeau also focused on the tank’s self-sufficiency, and utilized fish, snails and shrimp that feed on algae and detritus on the bottom of the tank. Live plants also maintain health by helping with necessary gas exchanges. Finally, Nadeau’s final costs for her design were under the budgeted amount for the project.
