Hide and seek in pathology- A research on game-based histopathology learning

Abstract

To know the effectiveness of a Game-Based Histopathology learning method. 
 To create a new Image oriented Game Based Histopathology slide reading method. To know the usefulness of the new method. To compare the conventional learning and game-based learning methods. Two groups of undergraduate students were tested with two different learning methods to identify pathology slide sections of four lesions. For each group, sixteen Undergraduate dental students were selected randomly. A game was created by using histopathology images of those four lesions, and circulated among the group one. The conventional method of slide reading was given to the group two. Both the group was tested for diagnosing the four pathology lesions through light microscopy spotter identification. Results were calculated accordingly. A questionnaire survey was done based on the pattern and pathology features oriented diagnostic capacity. Results of the questionnaire survey were also analyzed. Statistically, the results of both the two groups were analyzed. An Independent t-test was done and found out there was no significant difference between the two learning methods. The questionnaire survey revealed that the group learned through game-based pathology slide learning method learned the morphological features better than that of the conventional slide learning method. The image oriented game based pathology slide learning helps the undergraduate students to diagnose the pathology lesions with proper knowledge of morphological features than the conventional slide learning method, which is mainly pattern oriented. Though it is a very complicated procedure, the game based slide learning method is fun, creative and involves a majority of the student’s attention towards morphological features of any pathological lesions.