Less is more: development and evaluation of an interactive e-atlas to support anatomy learning

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Education
• Digital Learning Tools

Background:

• First-year nursing students require effective tools for interpreting complex laboratory-based prosected cadaveric material.
• Traditional anatomy education methods may not cater to diverse learning backgrounds.
• There is a need for student-centered, accessible resources in anatomy education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an Interactive electronic Atlas (IeA) for first-year nursing students.
• To assess the usability and utility of the IeA in a blended learning context.
• To provide computer-assisted learning support for human anatomy interpretation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a nine-module IeA with a simplified interface, focusing on essential anatomical structures and functional descriptions.
• Integration of cadaveric specimens and anatomical models with interactive elements.
• Complementary multiple-choice question database (approx. 1,000 questions) utilizing IeA images.
• Student perception survey (n=115) measuring usability and utility via Likert scale and written responses.

Main Results:

• Students accessed the IeA a mean of 2.3 times per week over a 12-week semester, with a median usage of three hours.
• High ratings for usability and utility were reported, with mean scores between 4.24 and 4.54 (5-point Likert scale).
• Written feedback corroborated the positive quantitative findings regarding usability and utility.

Conclusions:

• The Interactive electronic Atlas is a valuable, student-centered resource for enhancing the interpretation of cadaveric material in nursing anatomy education.
• The IeA effectively supports blended learning approaches and caters to diverse student learning backgrounds.
• Computer-assisted learning tools like the IeA play a significant role in modern anatomy education for large student cohorts.