A Virtual Microscope (WebMic)
with a Companion Manual for Learning Histology
Robert W.
Ogilvie, Peter Groscurth and Hanspeter Rohr
ABSTRACT:
WebMic
is an Internet interactive virtual microscope that resembles the use of a real
microscope. We have developed a
companion manual to enhance our proposed use of WebMic by students to learn
histology. We developed WebMic as a
Java program that includes 1300 histological images digitized at different
magnifications, 750 labeled (annotated) structures and
1400 textual comments that concisely describe labeled structures. Traditional histological information
includes: 1) preparation of samples for microscopy, 2) histology of tissues and
3) histology of organs. The user
interface allows scanning of specimens that resembles using a microscope to
study a glass slide. The image being
scanned and the magnified area of the scan are displayed simultaneously, a
feature not possible in a light microscope.
The specimens in WebMic can be selected with or without important
structures labeled. Structural dimensions
can be measured. The goals of the
companion manual are to: direct the student to
important structures, provide a detailed step-by-step guide for examination of
each specimen at several magnifications and summarize, using a “personal voice”
to encourage review of what has just been covered. This presentation will demonstrate WebMic
live, self-assessment modes and how using the manual facilitates learning
histology. Feedback by students who have
used WebMic and the companion manual will also be shared during this
demonstration. WebMic may be visited on
the Internet by going to: in Europe, http://www.neocortex.ch/WebMic_GenOrg/allgspez/WebMicGenOrg.html, or in the United States, http://mmi.musc.edu/WebMic/allgspez/WebMicGenOrg.html
. The connection in Europe requires no
access name or password. For the
connection in the states, the required name is:
ogilvieb, and the required password is:
9actin9. At the present time
arrangements can be made to allow trials at your teaching institution by
contacting R. Ogilvie in the States or H. Rohr in Basel, Switzerland.
BENEFIT TO
PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING SESSION:
Participants
will benefit by seeing first hand a unique virtual microscope that delivers
more than 800 histological images in a way that facilitates students who have
had no practical histology to learn it.
The participants will be able to engage in discussion with the presenter
as to how it has just be successfully used in a medical histology course where
145 students participated and learn how the students viewed this program.
Robert
W. Ogilvie, Ph.D.
Professor,
Department of Cell Biology & Anatomy
Medical
University of South Carolina
171
Ashley Avenue
Charleston,
SC, 29425 USA
Phone: 843-792-2667
Prof. Med. Peter Groscurth, MD
Head of the Institute of Anatomy
University of Zurich
Switzerland
gc@anatom.unizh.ch
Phone: +1-635 5311
Fax: +1-635 54 98
Prof. Med. Hanspeter Rohr,
MD
Professor Emeritus, University of Basal
Basal, Switzerland
Project
Coordinator: Prof. Dr. med. Hanspeter Rohr
Foundation NeoCortex
University of Basel, Nonnenweg 2a, CH-4055 Basel
Tel. +41 61 271 60 08 / Fax. +41 61 273 45 20
E-Mail info@neocortex.ch or hanspeter_rohr@yahoo.de
Homepage http://www.neocortex.ch