Trends in medical education have prompted changes in teaching methodologies in the traditional basic science courses. The increased availability and use of computer-aided instructional material, as well as the adaptation of national board licensing exams to a computer format, has helped justify an increased use of computers in the instruction and testing of health profession students. Furthermore, the inclusion of interactive small-group sessions has been encouraged to emphasize students' independent learning skills.

To support these trends, a multimedia Cell and Tissue Biology course for freshman medical students at UAB includes (1) lectures utilizing Power Point presentations, (2) histology labs utilizing multiple videomicroscope workstations, (3) a web site and CD-ROM containing images from the lectures, and (4) interactive small group sessions which culminate with students preparing graded Power Point presentations.

To utilize the available technology and to expose students to more computer-based exams, histology practical exams in the course are given in a format utilizing computers. Digitized images are acquired by either capturing images of stained tissue on glass microscope slides with a digital camera- equipped microscope utilizing a video capture card or by digital scanning of 35mm slides. Images are resized and enhanced with a photo image editor. QuestionMark© software is used to generate the exam. This software allows the inclusion of a written question, multiple images accessible through buttons, and space for a typed student response on a single screen. For test security, questions are randomized for each student in each exam session. The software also automates grading and question analysis. This format for practical exams also allows the building of image (question) libraries and provides flexibility in generating future exams.

Responses from the students have been overwhelmingly positive.

A different type of small group activity requiring students to prepare 45-minute presentations is also employed in the course. Basic science and clinical faculty participate by providing the name of a disease they are familiar with and then mentoring student groups in discussions about the molecular, cellular, physiological, and clinical aspects of the disease. Students (in groups of three) are allowed to "sign-up" for one of the specific diseases. Ideally, each faculty member responsible for each specific disease will mentor 9-12 students. Twice during the course, students meet with the appropriate faculty member to discuss the various aspects of the disease.

The culmination of this activity requires each group of three students to organize and present a 45-minute PowerPoint presentation about their chosen disease. Each presentation is observed and graded by two faculty members who have not previously worked with the specific group of students. Each faculty grader is given guidelines for assessing the presentations and is encouraged to not confer about the grades so each student can receive 2 unbiased grades. This grade accounts for 13% of the total points a student can earn in the course. Classmates are required to attend the presentation sessions even though they may not be presenting at that session. Student responses for this activity have also been positive. The teaching methods incorporated in this course may serve as a model for developing future histology courses that must adapt to the changing methodologies in medical education.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION: New trends in medical education and technology are leading to changes in the delivery of basic science information. These changes emphasize computer technology as well as independent active learning activities for students. The course described in the presentation incorporates methods of computer-based instruction, computer-based testing, and independent learning activities that can be adapted for other courses.

James H. Sheetz
Department of Cell Biology
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Volker Hall 220
1670 University Blvd.
Birmingham, Al. 35294
Phone: 205-934-5341
Fax: 205-934-7029
Email: jsheetz@uab.edu