Rigorous Curricular Innovation: Development, Integration, and Evaluation of Anatomic Clinical Correlations Module

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Anatomy Instruction
• Instructional Design

Background:

• Traditional anatomy courses often lack clinical relevance, impacting student motivation.
• Modernizing anatomy education requires effective instructional strategies and student-centered feedback.
• The 5-E instructional strategy offers a framework for engaging and effective learning experiences.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an anatomy clinical correlations module using modern instructional design.
• To enhance student motivation and learning in anatomy through applied clinical context.
• To systematically integrate student feedback for continuous course improvement.

Main Methods:

• A pre-experimental study design with a single group and post-test assessment.
• Eleven module sessions were structured using the 5-E (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) instructional strategy.
• Keller's ARCS (Attention, Relevance, Confidence, Satisfaction) framework and narrative feedback assessed learning impact.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements were observed in student attention (p=0.01) and relevance (p≤0.001) between academic years.
• High survey response rates (82.4%) indicated strong engagement with the module.
• Narrative feedback highlighted the value of applied anatomy, clinical decision-making, and session format.

Conclusions:

• An evidence-based instructional strategy effectively enhanced anatomy clinical correlations and student motivation.
• Systematic incorporation of structured student feedback is crucial for optimizing learning and ensuring appropriate challenge.
• The study demonstrates a successful model for improving anatomy education through targeted instructional design and feedback loops.