Real Learning in a Virtual World: A Prototype for The UltraSlide Studio, a virtual microscope environment
Deborah Moulton MAMS and Carolynn Crouch MAMS
University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
ABSTRACT:
In the world of diminishing budgets for lab technologies and wet lab space, the use of a well-produced virtual lab can be vital as a teaching resource in the medical school lab curriculum. The goal of this project is the development and implementation of an interactive, self-paced teaching tool for undergraduate medical students that can be accessible in a CD-format or via the web. This teaching tool, called The UltraSlide Studio, integrates basic microbiology review with the essential elements of a wet lab: review of correct lab procedures, viewing slides via a virtual microscope, and self-testing through interactive quizzes. The basic microbiology review incorporates animations, and supporting text. The virtual microscope enables a student to identify cells and structures while "panning a slide" and "changing depth of field." For the student, the advantage of this teaching tool is that it increases "exposure to the lab," at their convenience, using time more efficiently, while promoting independent learning. For educators, this tool can significantly reduce the cost of teaching microbiology by reducing wet-lab space and faculty teaching time.
BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:
We will demonstrate a prototype of The UltraSlide Studio, an interactive self-paced learning module that may replace or complement a traditional microbiology laboratory environment. We will discuss the use of Flash 5.0 and DHTML in the development of the module. Attendees may find our module of interest in developing their own virtual microscope-teaching modules.
Deborah Moulton, MAMS
602-A MSB (m/c 790)
Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology
College of Medicine, UIC
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: (312) 996-5661
Fax: (312) 996-6415
Email: dmoult1@uic.edu
Website: http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcmi/ultra/
CO-AUTHORS:
Carolynn Crouch, MAMS
William G. Hendrickson, PhD
Robert J. McAuley, PhD
C. Crouch/ W. Hendrickson
602-A MSB (m/c 790)
Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology
College of Medicine, UIC
Chicago, IL 60612
Robert J. McAuley
UIC College of Medicine
1853 W. Polk MC/785
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: C. Crouch/W. Hendrickson Phone: (312) 996-5600
Robert J. McAuley Phone: (312) 413-0109
Email: Carolynn Crouch: ccrouc1@hotmail.com
Robert J. McAuley, Ph.D. :RMcAuley@uic.edu
William G. Hendrickson, PhD: whend@uic.edu