Promoting Student Scholarship: A Web‐Based Peer‐Reviewed Educational Resource

Abstract

BackgroundFourth year medical students enrolled in the Teaching in Anatomy elective serve as prosectors in the BUSM gross anatomy course. Their clinical experience combined with the opportunity to revisit anatomy creates fresh insight into the clinical relevance of anatomy. Writing a case study for educational purposes allows them to engage in the scholarly process, synthesize their clinical experience with anatomical knowledge, and share this understanding with first year medical students.MethodsDuring the elective students developed a case study in an area of interest to be published as a web‐based clinical anatomy educational module. They presented and reviewed their cases in groups of four to six. Powerpoint™ files are converted into Quicktime™ and posted via Apple iWeb™ to anatomycases.com. First year students are encouraged to use the site for optional study material.ResultsIn the past two years fourth year students have generated 34 case‐based teaching modules on various topics. In fall semester 2009, 47% of first year students accessed the website as an optional exercise. 73% of first year students accessed the website when promised a bonus question would be derived from this optional study material.DiscussionStudents are a remarkable resource for developing educational materials if anatomy educators are available to facilitate the scholarly process. Students in turn find that doing scholarly work is more enjoyable than initially perceived and have rated this as a useful exercise (mean=4.3 out of 5). Future plans include developing a global educational component to this project to elevate social consciousness about global health needs.Grant Funding Source: none