Digital report in an anatomy laboratory: a new method for team-based dissection, reporting, and evaluation

Area of Science:

• Anatomy Education
• Medical Laboratory Science

Background:

• Traditional dissection reports in anatomy labs are being replaced.
• Digital reporting offers a modern alternative for student assessments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce and evaluate the effectiveness of digital reports (DR) as a replacement for traditional dissection reports.
• To assess DR's impact on student participation, teamwork, and learning evaluation.

Main Methods:

• Students worked in groups to create digital dissection reports, including labeled photographs.
• Reports were uploaded to a course website, forming a database for future students.
• Student effectiveness was evaluated via a 14-question survey.

Main Results:

• Digital reports increased active teamwork and facilitated report creation using previous years' work.
• DR provided a more effective assessment tool for anatomy teachers compared to traditional methods.
• Students found DRs useful for collaborative learning and referencing.

Conclusions:

• Digital reports align with the digital age, offering a paperless, team-based approach to dissection.
• DR facilitates more systematic and objective evaluation of student dissection skills.
• This method supports a progressive and efficient anatomy learning environment.