New online tool allows teachers and students to explore the human ear

Teachers can now offer a fully interactive view of the human ear in class, thanks to a new educational resource released online which details each part of the ear in detail. The tool explores the outer, middle and inner ear and the cochlea, and gives clear descriptions of each, explaining how the ear controls hearing and balance and what can affect its ability to do this effectively.

The website, created by hearing experts Amplifon, offers a highly-stylised 3D diagram of the human ear, with each part labelled with its name and a description to allow users to explore in as much or as little detail as they wish. The piece also includes an animated feature which follows the movement of sound waves from the outer to the inner ear.

It was created as a useful resource for teachers as part of an incentive by Amplifon to increase awareness of how the human ear works - and how it can be damaged. Intended for students of all ages, the Interactive Ear is designed in a colourful pop-out style to engage younger viewers and to clearly identify relevant components of the ear; however, the information provided is concise enough for older students to use as a tool and reference point.

Steve Fleming, Chief Executive at Amplifon, said: "We're very proud of this new resource; it's a beautifully-designed piece that should really capture people's attention, and we think it's going to be really useful in the classroom at all academic stages. Allowing students to interact with their subject matter is hugely important, and hopefully being able to explore the whole ear at their own pace will encourage users to develop a deeper understanding of the processes within it."