Abstract

Cardio-blood circulation serves as a vital process in the human body, particularly in sustaining life through the continuous transport of oxygen and nutrients. This system equips the body with the essential means to maintain organ function and overall health, as represented in the model “Makina ng Buhay.” Moreover, it provides opportunities for learners to study heart function and anatomy through both theoretical and practical approaches, as emphasized by Encyclopedia Britannica (2022). Instructional innovations, such as 3D printed heart models, have proven effective in enhancing students’ understanding by addressing the limitations of traditional 2D illustrations, as highlighted by Tarca et al. (2023). Similarly, Navid et al. (2020) advocated that 3D models significantly improve comprehension of cardiac anatomy when compared to conventional methods such as PowerPoint slides and sheep heart dissections. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest design was used to examine the 3D model Makina ng Buhay in teaching cardio-blood circulation to Grade 9 students. Quantitative analysis was intended to assess changes in knowledge, engagement, and performance. Of the respondents, 48% were aged 14–15 years. The result shows that female students were most likely to benefit and that the 3D model improved Grade 9 students’ understanding, retention, critical thinking, academic performance, engagement, curiosity, and self-directed learning. The result also describes the 3D model and the overall 3D learning experience as user-friendly. The study reports favorable outcomes after using the 3D model Makina and other 3D learning activities ng Buhay with Grade 9 students, including knowledge of the heart and blood circulation, problem-solving, and engagement. However, the absence of sample details and quantitative evidence prevents verification of significant improvement or claims that females benefited more. Further reporting and comparative evaluation are required.