Teaching Anatomy in the Multimedia World—Using Digital Tools for Progressive Learning over Time

Marcus Granmo,Fredrik Bengtsson

doi:10.4236/ce.2015.611117

Abstract

In a cross-faculty project journalism students filmed anatomy briefings on a medical program. The material gave medical students free access to rehearse and repeat over time. The journalism students on their part practiced camera technique, directing and editing: It was an opportunity for students to help students. Following a quality evaluation of undergraduate studies at the Lund University medical faculty in 2011, we explored, developed, and implemented novel educational tools to meet students’ need in the multimedia world in which they operate. Incorporating complementary digital learning resources, in particular integration with mobile applications enabled us to meet students in their own world, thereby enhancing the learning process. We produced short video clips on specific anatomic themes, following the curriculum of the well-established anatomy course, and posted them online, allowing continuous rehearsal and repetition over time at a pace that suits individual students. Also, available to all semesters it provides free opportunities for repetition, reducing the risk of knowledge-loss between basic and clinical parts of the program. Besides the obvious benefits for students, the material gave teachers a clear view of the students’ curriculum. Thus, the material can be used for alternative, more interactive forms of examination. The paper describes the project, and the results from evaluations and integration with mobile technology.

Highlights

This paper describes a cross-faculty project at Lund University where part of the teaching in medical anatomy is
This, together with traditional self-studies by aid of the recommended literature, completes the anatomy teaching, a layout launched after a major revision of the medical program in the mid 90s (Utbildningen i makroanatomi-Den framtida morfologiundervisningen i Lund, 1994)
The project started with the forming of a cross-faculty project group with students and teachers from the journalism program together with amanuensis from higher semesters on the medical program

Summary

Introduction

How to cite this paper: Granmo, M., & Bengtsson, F. (2015). Teaching Anatomy in the Multimedia World—Using Digital Tools for Progressive Learning over Time. We have for a long time felt a general lack of understanding of the functional aspects of anatomy This is reflected by shortcomings in the results on clinical semesters where many students fail in the introduction exam. After a more or less introductory first semester and still to a large extent unaccustomed to University studies, the students face their first full semester course containing a large curriculum This has brought us to the conclusion that active student-oriented tools are needed to facilitate learning for those in direct need of help to reach the learning objectives, to push all students towards a higher level of understanding of the curriculum, and to broaden their academic knowledge (Michael, 2006; Prince, 2004). These demonstrations can focus on problem solving, explanation and discussions, optimizing the use of the teacher-student interaction

Project

Findings

Conclusion