Gender preference between traditional and PowerPoint methods of teaching gross anatomy

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Teaching
• Educational Technology

Background:

• The shift from traditional to technology-enhanced learning is transforming medical education.
• Gross anatomy instruction is adapting to modern pedagogical approaches.
• Information and communication technology (ICT) integration is crucial in contemporary learning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To ascertain gender-based preferences in teaching methods for gross anatomy.
• To compare student choices between traditional (chalk and talk) and PowerPoint presentations.
• To evaluate the impact of teaching modalities on gross anatomy education.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional, prospective study was conducted at the University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
• A questionnaire was administered to 280 preclinical medical students; 247 provided valid responses.
• Data analysis utilized SPSS version 20 to identify student preferences and associations.

Main Results:

• The majority of preclinical medical students preferred PowerPoint presentations over traditional methods for gross anatomy.
• A significant gender difference emerged: males preferred PowerPoint for lecture clarity, while females favored traditional methods.
• Females preferred PowerPoint for text/diagram reproducibility, whereas males preferred traditional methods for these aspects.

Conclusions:

• Gender significantly influences preferences for lecture clarity and content reproducibility in gross anatomy.
• While most students favor PowerPoint, specific aspects show differing gender-based pedagogical needs.
• Findings highlight the need for adaptable teaching strategies in gross anatomy to accommodate diverse student preferences.