A number of recent developments in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry at the University of Alberta have reduced our ability to teach histology by traditional methods. Our class size has increased over the past two years, while the number of anatomy teaching faculty has decreased. In addition, budgetary constraints have restricted our ability to maintain and replace aging equipment and student slide sets.

In order to address these problems, we have begun to use computer-aided instruction in the histology component of our medical and dental curricula. As one component of this program, we have been experimenting with the use of a virtual microscope template that mimics many of the capabilities of a light microscope. While other virtual microscope programs have been previously developed, ours contains a number of unique technological features that make it easy to use by both students and instructors. The virtual microscope is delivered over the Internet using the Macromedia Flash plug-in which is widely available and supported on all the major computer platforms. In conjunction with Flash software, the template produces small file sizes, while retaining high image quality and resolution. The template can be easily used by other instructors with little understanding of Flash and can be modified to dynamically load images and link to other web resources.

Virtual microscope programs have been criticized for sacrificing important educational principles for the sake of convenience. Critics argue that the use of virtual microscope programs denies students the opportunity to learn to use a light microscope. However, in our experience, we have neither the time nor the staff to train students adequately in the use of the microscope. As a result, students have difficulty finding and identifying histological structures in their microscopes. In addition, the majority of practicing physicians never use a microscope. Those who require microscopy, such as pathologists, receive specific training in their residency programs. Critics also argue that students learn fundamental problem solving skills from having to find histological structures in microscope slides. However, our virtual microscope program requires students to find specific structures and preserves the discovery aspect of learning. In addition, students find the program easier to use than the unfamiliar technology of microscopy.

We will demonstrate how we have incorporated the virtual microscope template into web delivered labs on the lower gastrointestinal tract, the female reproductive system, and the male reproductive system. The online labs are conducted in a similar fashion to traditional histology labs. Before accessing the virtual microscope labs, students are expected to inform themselves of the histology of a unit by attending a lecture, reading in a textbook or using an online study program we are developing called HistoQuest. Students are provided with a handout on the first page of the site, which they can download and print. This handout defines a set of tasks that requires students to integrate the principles learned outside the lab with histology specimens contained on the Website. Introductory web pages provide some context to the area of the tissue or system being studied. These pages also guide students to the virtual microscope images where students must explore and answer the questions contained within the handout. Students can access the answer key once they have completed the assigned tasks.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

Participants can view a novel approach to displaying interactive microscopic images on the Internet that is of potential use to other instructors teaching morphological sciences. They can see an interesting use of Flash technology and find out how they can create similar instructional tools with simple and inexpensive hardware and software.

Marc Brisbourne
University of Alberta,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,
Division of Anatomy,
525 Medical Sciences Building,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2H7
Phone: (780) 492-1309
Fax: (780) 492-0462
Email: mbrisbou@med.ualberta.ca
Website: http://www.med.ualberta.ca/histology/VML/lowergi/

CO-AUTHORS:
David Begg, Erica Melnyk, Susan Chin
University of Alberta,
Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry,
Division of Anatomy,
525 Medical Sciences Building,
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
T6G 2H7
Phone: (780) 492-7179,
(780) 492-1309
Fax: (780) 492-0462
Email: david.begg@ualberta.ca
emelnyk@med.ualberta.ca,
schin@med.ualberta.ca
Website: http://www.med.ualberta.ca/histology/