From bones to bytes: Do manipulable 3D models have added value in osteology education compared to static images?

BACKGROUND: Over the past few years, anatomy education has been revolutionized through digital media, resulting in innovative computer-based 3D models to supplement or even replace traditional learning materials. However, the added value of these models in terms of learning performance remains unclear. Multiple mechanisms may contribute to the inconclusive findings. This study focusses on the impact of active manipulation on learning performance and the influence that posttest design features may have on the outcome measurement. METHODS: Participants were randomly assigned to one of two research conditions: studying on the base of a computer-based manipulable pelvic bone model versus online static images of the same model. Pretests focused on students' baseline anatomy knowledge and spatial ability. Three knowledge posttests were administered: a test based on a physical pelvic bone model, and two computer-based tests based on static images and a manipulable model. Mental effort was measured with the Paas mental effort rating scale. RESULTS: In the static images-based posttest, significantly higher knowledge scores were attained by participants studying in the static images research condition (p = 0.043). No other significant knowledge-related differences could be observed. In the manipulable model-based posttest, spatial ability rather than the research condition seemed to have an influential role on the outcome scores (r = 0.18, p = 0.049). Mental effort scores reflected no difference between both research conditions. CONCLUSION: The research results are counter-intuitive, especially because no significant differences were found in the physical model-based posttest in students who studied with the manipulable model. Explaining the results builds on differences in anatomical models requiring less or more active manipulation to process spatial information. The pelvic bone manipulable model, and by extension osteology models, might be insufficiently complex to provide added value compared with static images. Moreover, the posttest modality should be chosen with care since spatial ability rather than anatomy knowledge may be measured.

Antropología Física en función de las ciencias médicas: una necesidad de estos tiempos / Physical anthropology for medical sciences: a need in current times

Introducción: El sistema de conocimientos de Antropología Física responde a especialidades médicas como la Anatomía Humana y la Medicina Legal. En Cuba estas especialidades médicas no cuentan con la profundidad y superación profesional adecuada que permita el uso práctico de estos conocimientos. Objetivo: Caracterizar el entrenamiento de posgrado "Osteología y Odontología en función de la identificación humana", realizado en la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Matanzas entre enero y marzo de 2020. Métodos: Estudio observacional, descriptivo y de corte transversal. La población estuvo compuesta por 25 cursistas, especialistas en Medicina Legal y Anatomía Humana. Se consideraron variables como programa de estudio, categoría docente de los participantes, satisfacción con su desarrollo y resultados de la promoción docente. Para las indagaciones empíricas se aplicó la técnica de PNI como parte de la valoración general del curso. Resultados: El curso se impartió durante 56 horas en 7 semanas. Como parte de sus logros se realizó la clasificación y caracterización antropológica de una parte de la osamenta de la Osteoteca de la Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de Matanzas, así como la ampliación de esta mediante una sección de Antropología Física que incorporó seis cadáveres completos caracterizados antropológicamente. Conclusiones: Este entrenamiento permitió adiestrar y actualizar a los cursistas sobre la identificación humana, a partir del estudio de los restos óseos referentes a la expresión cualitativa y cuantitativa de los caracteres morfológicos, que responden a las necesidades de la práctica docente en anatomía y la asistencia médico legal(AU)

Introduction: The knowledge system of Physical Anthropology responds to medical specialties such as Human Anatomy and Legal Medicine. In Cuba, these medical specialties do not have adequate depth and professional improvement that allows the practical use of this knowledge. Objective: To characterize the training about osteology and dental medicine in view of human identification, carried out at the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas between January and March 2020. Methods: Observational, descriptive and cross-sectional study. The population consisted of 25 trainees, specialists in Legal Medicine and Human Anatomy. Some variables were considered, such as study program, teaching category of the participants, satisfaction with their development and results of teaching promotion. For the empirical inquiries, the positive-negative-interesting technique was applied as part of the general assessment of the course. Results: The course lasted 56 hours distributed in seven weeks. As part of its achievements, the anthropological classification and characterization of a part of the materials from the bone collection of the University of Medical Sciences of Matanzas was carried out, as well as its expansion through a physical anthropology section that incorporated six complete corpses anthropologically characterized. Conclusions: This training allowed to train and update the students on human identification, based on the study of bone remains referring to the qualitative and quantitative expression of morphological characters, which respond to the needs of teaching practice in Anatomy, as well as in legal-medical assistance(AU)

A Methodology for Visualising Growth and Development of the Human Temporal Bone.

This chapter presents a methodological framework which could be used to produce accurate anatomical 3D models and animations of the developing skull, with a focus on the temporal bone. Initial modelling is based on information from core texts and visual references, before optimising these models for use in interactive real-time applications. A series of 3D modelling and animation workflows typically used in computer games and animation industry were tested and compared. Workflows most suitable for the production of a 3D visualisation of the developing temporal bone were documented in detail and used to produce the final 3D models. 3D models of the developing temporal bone were then implemented in an interactive mobile application, which allowed users to explore the 3D models on their Android mobile device and use augmented reality to enhance real-world information. Results of tests conducted in this research suggest that 3D modelling workflows which mimic the processes occurring during development of the temporal bone are most suitable for producing realistic 3D models. Animation workflows tested in this research have all shown potential to produce morphing animations of the developing temporal bone. The significant time required to create deformation setups and animations themselves however suggests that using scripting to automate these workflows would increase their usability in projects with a limited timeframe.

Peer-assisted learning versus didactic teaching in osteology for first-year Indian undergraduate medical students: a quasi-experimental study.

PURPOSE: The utility of peer-assisted learning (PAL) in anatomy education has been recognized. In this study, PAL was incorporated into osteology teaching for the first-year medical students and compared to traditional didactic methods (TDM). METHODS: This was a cross-over intervention study. The class of 60 students was divided into two equal groups. The first group underwent PAL for five upper limb osteology sessions and TDM for all lower limb osteology classes. The second group underwent TDM for five upper limb osteology classes and PAL for lower limb osteology classes. A pre-session test (PrST) and post-session test (PoST) were conducted for each session using multiple choice type questions. Perceptions of students about PAL were collected using a questionnaire. Between and within group differences were estimated using the independent sample T test and paired T test, respectively. The responses in the questionnaire were summarized and open-ended responses categorized into broad themes. RESULTS: Greater group differences were noted in the PrST as compared to the PoST mean scores, with the PAL group showing higher mean scores for both upper and lower limb sessions. Significantly higher PoST scores compared to PrST scores for all the sessions were observed regardless of the method used. Significantly higher scores in the PrST or PoST scores were noted in the PAL group for five sessions. Most aspects of PAL were appreciated by the students. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that PAL is at least as effective as TDM in learning osteology among the first-year medical students.

Learning osteology: what resources do undergraduate anatomy students prefer?

Several osteology-learning resources are helpful, but using human bones could optimise students' learning experience. Hence, the Department of Basic Medical Sciences, University of the Free State (UFS), South Africa, issues a complete set of unarticulated bones of a human skeleton to registered anatomy students. However, not all students choose to accept this set of bones for additional study. The purpose of this study was to explore anatomy students' utilisation of human bones and to determine their preferences and suggestions for alternative resources to learn osteology. This descriptive observational study entailed an opinion survey regarding resources for learning osteology amongst anatomy students at the UFS in 2014. These students included medical, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and nursing students (n = 425). Results are presented using descriptive statistics. The majority (89.9%) of students across disciplines found using human bones beneficial, irrespective of whether they chose to receive bones. The bones were most frequently used by occupational therapy students and least frequently used by medical students. Students used bones for learning bone names and specific features that included bone markings and muscle attachments. Other preferred and suggested resources included textbooks, atlases, computer software and the anatomy museum. This study reveals that students prefer to use human bones to learn osteology. The results could assist anatomy departments to develop a strategy to provide sufficient opportunities for anatomy students to use human bones to learn osteology. Alternative, suitable resources for the study of osteology could be implemented due to increasing student numbers and difficulty in obtaining human material for teaching purposes

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Relationships between learning strategies, stress, and study success among first-year veterinary students during an educational transition phase.

We investigated the relationships between stress, learning strategies, and study success among first-year veterinary students at the very beginning of their veterinary studies. The study was carried out during the first course on macroscopic anatomy (osteology), which students have in the past found to be exceptionally stressful. Students (N=45) completed a questionnaire concerning their self-reported views on stress and learning strategies, which were compared with their self-reported written-test scores. Participants who had previously gained university credits did not have significantly better test scores, but they achieved the learning goals with significantly less stress than other participants. Previous experience of university study helped students not only to adjust to a new type of course content and to achieve the learning goal of the osteology course, but also to cope with the stress experienced from taking concurrently running courses. Of the respondents who specifically named factors relating to self-regulation and modification of their learning strategy, all had gained prior credits. These students were able to use their study time efficiently and adjust their schedules according to the course demands.