An interactive, web-based tool for learning anatomic landmarks.

Full Abstract

PURPOSE:
To evaluate the effectiveness of a Web-based interactive teaching tool that uses self-assessment exercises with real-time feedback to aid students' learning in a gross anatomy class.

METHOD:
A total of 107 of 124 first-year medical students at one school were enrolled in the study. Students were divided into three groups:
Group 1 (n = 63) received introductory material and activated their Web-based accounts; Group 2 (n = 44) received introductory material but did not activate their Web-based accounts; and Group 3 (n = 17) were not enrolled in the study and received no introductory material. Students in Group 1 had access to a graphic showing the locations of anatomic landmarks, a drill exercise, and a self-evaluation exercise. Students' ability to identify the anatomic landmarks on a 30-question midterm and a 30-question final exam were compared among the groups.

RESULTS:
The mean scores of students in Group 1 (midterm = 28.5, final = 28.1) were significantly higher than were the mean scores of students in Group 2 (midterm = 26.8, p <.001; final = 26.9, p <.017) and Group 3 (midterm = 24.8, p <.001; final = 26.4, p <.007).

CONCLUSIONS:
The Web-based tool was effective in improving students' scores on anatomic landmark exams. Future studies will determine whether the tool aids students in identifying structures located in three-dimensional space within regions such as the cranium and the abdominal cavity.

Learn Faster Today Improve your study skills

Author information

Author/s: Hallgren, Richard C (RC); Parkhurst, Perrin E (PE); Monson, Carol L (CL); Crewe, Nancy M (NM);

Affiliation: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA. hallgren(-atsign-)msu.edu

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

Journal: Academic medicine : journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Acad Med), published in United States. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2002-Mar; vol 77 (issue 3) : pp 263-5

Dates: Created 2002/03/13; Completed 2002/04/02; Revised 2006/11/15;

PMID: 11891167, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

External Links for this article (including full text providers, if available):

Click Electronic Full-text Provider Links to see options for finding the electronic full text links to this article. Note there may be a subscription or fee required for access to the full text. See our FAQ for information on finding FREE full text articles.

This article may also be located in paper journal collections available in many libraries. Use the Journal and Publication Information above to find the full article.

MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MESH Headings shown below.

Female
Humans
Internet
Male
Osteopathic Medicine - education
Self-Evaluation Programs

This article has not been indexed for related articles as yet, however you can still use the live related article search links below.

See 100+ related articles.