Development of a Digital Anatomy Lab Manual
Project Overview
Our proposed project has the following specific aims
Aim 1: Storyboard and develop a digital laboratory manual for anatomy teaching.
Aim 2: Trial and evaluate the digital anatomy laboratory manual in a required course.
Traditionally, paper-based laboratory manuals have been used to guide learners through the hands-on activities during lab sessions. These manuals have included photographs, drawings, and text that explain steps of the laboratory session; for example steps of a specific anatomical dissection. The format of these lab manuals has not made them conducive to an interactive style of learning. While helpful, many instructors and learners have found these manuals to be of limited valueand an additional book to carry.
The possibility of offering digital manuals that can combine instructional content of traditional paper-based manuals, with more interactive materials such as audio, video, and, animations isanappealing one. Making these lab manuals available on portable devices such as iPads / iPhones that can be used by the side of the cadaver, combines the strengths of each modality of learning.
Our proposed project will utilize the open e-book standard (ePub) from International Digital Publishing Forum (IDPF). We aim to create the manual so that it is database-driven, thus material can be easily updated as needed, and additional components can be easily added for updates. Modern "Web 2.0" technology will be used so that this is a network-based application, which will function within the Mobile Safari browser on the iPad/iPhone, and can be extended to other mobile devices, including Android.
The availability of a digital lab manual will provide an opportunity to evaluate how it integrates with our traditional style of hands-on activity to enhance the entire teaching / learning process. We anticipate that it will be helpful in illustrating difficult and challenging laboratory exercises and also make them time efficient to complete by learners.
Project Team
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