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 |
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
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