Integrating Movies, Images and Text in a New Neurocience Course Web Site

Integrating Movies, Images and Text in a New Neuroscience Course Web Site

 

Allen L. Humphrey, Ph.D. and James B. McGee, MD, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pennsylvania, USA

 

ABSTRACT:

 

Traditional, textbook-based approaches to teaching medical neuroscience suffer from two major deficiencies. (1) We expect students to develop an appreciation for the 3-dimensional nature of deep brain structures and projection systems largely from their study of 2-dimensional cross sections, diagrams, and radiological images. Many students find this quite difficult to do, especially in a fast paced, time-constrained curriculum. (2) Identifying and distinguishing among classic neurological signs and symptoms requires that students view these problems in life-like settings. Texts do not suffice to accomplish this, and the logistical difficulties of bringing patients to lectures are generally insurmountable.

 

While developing a new web site (http://navigator.medschool.pitt.edu) for the medical Neuroscience course at the University of Pittsburgh, we have sought to solve some of these deficiencies. (1) We have incorporated animations of neuroanatomical structures into laboratory teaching modules, which allow students to relate standard cross-sectional views of structures to larger, 3-D-like, animated forms of those structures. Students can link to each animation from within the online text of a lab exercise or access the animations directly from a separate movie library. We are grateful to Kate Mulligan and John Sundsten for allowing us to use QuickTime movies from the Neuroanatomy Interactive Syllabus CD-ROM (University of Washington, 1998). (2) We have constructed other movie libraries containing videos of patients with classic neurological signs and diseases (e.g., upper vs. lower motor neuron signs, Babinski sign, clonus, etc.). Faculty are encouraged to use these videos during their clinical lectures and students have access to the materials outside of class. We thank Suzanne Stensaas and Paul Larsen for permission to use videos from their web site, NeuroLogic Exam: An Anatomical Approach (http://library.med.utah.edu/neurologicexam).

 

This course web site was developed using the Pitt Med Navigator curriculum management application of Dr. James B. McGee (see his abstract at this meeting). The easily used authoring tools have also allowed us to create online self-test quizzes, neuroradiology image libraries, and online versions of lecture notes with embedded movies.

 

Information regarding the use of the Neuroscience site by students and faculty will be presented at the meeting, and plans for additional development will discussed.

 

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

Participants will see how one can easily produce a multi-media web site to enhance students' grasp of 3-dimensional brain structure and their appreciation of classic neurological diseases.

 

Allen L. Humphrey, Ph.D.

Department of Neurobiology, and

Office of Medical Education

3500 Terrace Street, BST W1444

University of Pittsburgh

School of Medicine

Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA

Phone: 412-648-9071 Fax: 412-648-1441

Email: humphrey@pitt.edu

http://navigator.medschool.pitt.edu

CO-AUTHORS:

James B. McGee, MD

205B Mezzanine Level

Scaife Hall

3550 Terrace Street

University of Pittsburgh

School of Medicine

Pittsburgh, PA 15261 USA

Phone: 412-648-9679 Fax: 412-648-9378

Email: jbmcgee@medschool.pitt.edu

http://labedutech.medschool.pitt.edu