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More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education

The adoption of virtual microscopy at the University of Turku, Finland, created a unique real-world laboratory for exploring ways of reforming the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the students' reactions and the impact of a set of measures designed to boost an exp...

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Autores principales: Helle, Laura, Nivala, Markus, Kronqvist, Pauliina
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2013
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3638363/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22930425
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ase.1302
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author Helle, Laura
Nivala, Markus
Kronqvist, Pauliina
author_facet Helle, Laura
Nivala, Markus
Kronqvist, Pauliina
author_sort Helle, Laura
collection PubMed
description The adoption of virtual microscopy at the University of Turku, Finland, created a unique real-world laboratory for exploring ways of reforming the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the students' reactions and the impact of a set of measures designed to boost an experimental group's understanding of abnormal histology through an emphasis on knowledge of normal cells and tissues. The set of measures included (1) digital resources to review normal structures and an entrance examination for enforcement, (2) digital course slides highlighting normal and abnormal tissues, and (3) self-diagnostic quizzes. The performance of historical controls was used as a baseline, as previous students had never been exposed to the above-mentioned measures. The students' understanding of normal histology was assessed in the beginning of the module to determine the impact of the first set of measures, whereas that of abnormal histology was assessed at the end of the module to determine the impact of the whole set of measures. The students' reactions to the instructional measures were assessed by course evaluation data. Additionally, four students were interviewed. Results confirmed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the historical controls in understanding normal histology. The students held favorable opinions on the idea of emphasizing normal structures. However, with regards to abnormal histology, the historical controls outperformed the experimental group. In conclusion, allowing students access to high-quality digitized materials and boosting prerequisite skills are clearly not sufficient to boost final competence. Instead, the solution may lie in making students externally accountable for their learning throughout their training. Anat Sci Educ 6: 73–80. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists.
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spelling pubmed-36383632013-04-29 More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education Helle, Laura Nivala, Markus Kronqvist, Pauliina Anat Sci Educ Research Reports The adoption of virtual microscopy at the University of Turku, Finland, created a unique real-world laboratory for exploring ways of reforming the learning environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the students' reactions and the impact of a set of measures designed to boost an experimental group's understanding of abnormal histology through an emphasis on knowledge of normal cells and tissues. The set of measures included (1) digital resources to review normal structures and an entrance examination for enforcement, (2) digital course slides highlighting normal and abnormal tissues, and (3) self-diagnostic quizzes. The performance of historical controls was used as a baseline, as previous students had never been exposed to the above-mentioned measures. The students' understanding of normal histology was assessed in the beginning of the module to determine the impact of the first set of measures, whereas that of abnormal histology was assessed at the end of the module to determine the impact of the whole set of measures. The students' reactions to the instructional measures were assessed by course evaluation data. Additionally, four students were interviewed. Results confirmed that the experimental group significantly outperformed the historical controls in understanding normal histology. The students held favorable opinions on the idea of emphasizing normal structures. However, with regards to abnormal histology, the historical controls outperformed the experimental group. In conclusion, allowing students access to high-quality digitized materials and boosting prerequisite skills are clearly not sufficient to boost final competence. Instead, the solution may lie in making students externally accountable for their learning throughout their training. Anat Sci Educ 6: 73–80. © 2012 American Association of Anatomists. Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 2013-03 2012-08-28 /pmc/articles/PMC3638363/ /pubmed/22930425 http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ase.1302 Text en Copyright © 2012 American Association of Anatomists http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/ Re-use of this article is permitted in accordance with the Creative Commons Deed, Attribution 2.5, which does not permit commercial exploitation.
spellingShingle Research Reports
Helle, Laura
Nivala, Markus
Kronqvist, Pauliina
More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title_full More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title_fullStr More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title_full_unstemmed More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title_short More Technology, Better Learning Resources, Better Learning? Lessons from Adopting Virtual Microscopy in Undergraduate Medical Education
title_sort more technology, better learning resources, better learning? lessons from adopting virtual microscopy in undergraduate medical education
topic Research Reports
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3638363/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22930425
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ase.1302
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