Systematic Approach of Using Body Painting Method for Anatomy Teaching and Practical via Online Platform

Abstract

In the context of medical education, body painting refers to the schematic portrayal of internal organs on the body’s surface. Body painting session has been reported to be fun and engaging, and it encourages learning through easy visualisation of underlying anatomical structures. Besides improving anatomical knowledge retention, body painting is particularly effective for learning surface anatomy and complementing the teaching of clinical skills and peer assessment procedures such as palpation. Indeed, the clinical relevance of the gross anatomy can be conveyed to students by bringing cadaveric anatomy to life body painting. In educational perspective, the delivery of body painting method is in line with the active learning approach and collaborative learning principle; and its instructional design follows the principles of the cognitive load theory. In this article, we provide a systematic approach for a successful body painting session for anatomy teaching via online platform, which cater for remote learning needs amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.