Using a Website to Improve Learning and Communication in the Gross Anatomy Dissection

Mary Niedringhaus, Bob Engeszer, Glenn Conroy, Ph.D., Jane Phillips-Conroy, Ph.D., Robert Engeszer, MLS, Washington University School of Medicine

ABSTRACT:

Promoting discussion and information sharing between table groups in the typical Gross Anatomy Lab is a continuing challenge to course instructors. Traditionally the faculty at Washington University School of Medicine would inform students of interesting cadaver findings by posting a list to a whiteboard. The faculty also circulated among lab tables, posing "Questions of the Week" to the students in an attempt to stimulate discussion among the student groups. These methods, however, were problematic because students often forgot to look at the whiteboard and both methods were very costly in faculty time. A better mechanism was needed to promote discussions and information sharing as it is through this process that students learn about human biological variation and common pathological findings.

This year the Anatomy course undertook a mission to address some of these educational goals by establishing a Gross Anatomy Website. The Website was created, using Lotus Notes Quickplace, to house the Gross Anatomy Lab communications. Questions of the week were posted to the site where students could respond as a group. The site allowed for more dynamic question of the week discussions because the faculty could now include supporting information such as photos and weblinks. This method also ensured that all students received the same information. As students responded to these questions the faculty was notified via email.

Each lab table was required to post their cadaver findings of anatomic/pathologic variants including supporting information. This additional information provided the students with an opportunity to delve deeper into the finding than the previous method. The site was designed to integrate with the students' email, so that each time a finding was posted the entire class was notified, thus meeting the goal of instant notification.

Other features were added, including a bulletin board for faculty and student casual postings, a folder for dissection tips, and a folder for "contemplations", where students might pose personal musings about their experience. Because the web site allows students to post images, links to other sites, and file attachments as part of their cadaver findings, the depth and variety of information that is being shared in class has been greatly enhanced. Using a central repository for answering questions and sharing findings has also improved the cooperation and communication between groups of students.

The Gross Anatomy web site has fulfilled the initial goals of improving communication among students and the faculty is encouraged about its usefulness, particularly in educating students about the breadth of normal anatomic variation. Future growth potential for the site would include increased faculty communication and patient histories.

BENEFIT TO PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:

We will demonstrate the Gross Anatomy Lab Website used this year and preview some of the site improvements for the next academic year. This presentation will be of interest to both teachers of Gross Anatomy who share the same difficulties with communication and information sharing in the dissection lab and to any Educators who must communicate and share information with large groups of students.

Mary Niedringhaus 660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8132 St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone: (314) 362-2747 Fax: (314) 747-2866 Email: mailto:niedrinm@msnotes.wustl.edu

CO-AUTHORS: Glenn Conroy, Ph.D. Jane Phillips-Conroy, Ph.D. Robert Engeszer, MLS 660 S. Euclid, Campus Box 8132 St. Louis, MO 63110 Phone: (314) 362-3397 (314) 362-3396 (314) 362-4735 Fax: (314) 362-3446 (314) 362-3446 (314) 747-2866 Email: mailto:CONROYG@PCG.WUSTL.EDU mailto:BABOON@THALAMUS.WUSTL.EDU mailto:ENGESZER@MSNOTES.WUSTL.EDU