Adaptations in Anatomy Education during COVID-19

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Instruction
• Digital Learning

Background:

• COVID-19 pandemic necessitated shift from face-to-face to online education.
• Universities adopted online formats, impacting traditional teaching methods.
• A blended learning approach was implemented for anatomy instruction.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate learning outcomes of a new blended anatomy curriculum.
• Compare academic achievement between blended and traditional learning groups.
• Assess student preferences for online versus traditional anatomy learning methods.

Main Methods:

• Compared academic scores of 108 students (2020, blended) with 104 students (2019, traditional).
• Utilized online questionnaire to gauge student preferences and reasons.
• Blended approach included online lectures, dissection videos, 3D apps, and condensed cadaver dissection.

Main Results:

• Blended learning group (2020) achieved significantly higher anatomy exam scores than the traditional group (2019).
• Students preferred online lectures for increased self-study time and personalized learning.
• Learners valued the ability to review lecture videos repeatedly.

Conclusions:

• Blended learning is an effective strategy for anatomy education.
• Increased self-directed study via online components contributes to learning advantages.
• This approach offers a viable alternative for anatomy instruction in evolving educational landscapes.