Auditorium
Interactive Pathology Laboratory: A Case-Based Approach to General Pathology
Peter G. Anderson, DVM, PhD and Kristopher Jones University of Alabama at Birmingham
Abstract:
The Interactive Pathology Laboratory is an interactive, case-based approach for learning the concepts of General Pathology. This self-study computer-assisted instructional program contains over 1,000 digitized photomicrographs and gross photographs with accompanying descriptive text. The program has been designed to complement Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease with groups of cases organized into laboratory modules that follow the sequence of chapters in the textbook; however, the program can be used as an adjunct to any General Pathology textbook. In addition to the text and images, study questions are associated with each case and a quiz module is associated with each of the fourteen laboratories in the program. Students may test their learning from the quiz modules by working through the questions one-at-a-time as well as by taking practice tests of randomized questions. This randomized approach enables the student to be tested by a number of unique quizzes for each laboratory.
The Interactive Pathology Laboratory was created using an authoring program called Digital TrainerÆ (Micromedium, Apex, North Carolina). This template-driven authoring program has all the word-handling features of a word processing program in addition to sophisticated multimedia tools that allow the integration of images, sounds, and videos. Instructors may customize the teaching modules by modifying any of the instructional materials as well as by adding new cases. In addition, instructors are provided with authoring tools for the design, development, and administration of secure, scored computer-based examinations, for which student tracking data is collected.
The Interactive Pathology Laboratory can be used over the Internet on an intranet or as a stand alone CD-ROM based program. Over the last two years at the UAB School of Medicine, this program has been accessible to students via the local intranet or students could purchase CD-ROM versions of the program. These computer-based self-study learning modules have replaced the traditional didactic General Pathology teaching laboratories and have received excellent overall reviews by the students.
Benefit in Attending Session:
We will demonstrate a computerized case-based self-study learning module which has replaced our traditional didactic laboratory sessions in our General Pathology course. We will discuss authoring software, development of CD-ROM and network-based teaching materials, and computerized testing. Attendees may find the user-friendly authoring tool we used to be of interest in developing their own teaching modules and computerized tests.
Peter G. Anderson, DVM, PhD and Kristopher N. Jones UAB Dept of Pathology 1670 University Boulevard G046A Birmingham, Alabama 35294-0019 205.934.1915 Fax Number: 205.934.1775 pga@uab.edu knjones@uab.edu http://peir.path.uab.edu