Microfiches as an aid to teaching histology

A set of six colour microfiches and an atlas of black-and-white prints of the photomicrographs used in the microfiches have been prepared by the author and have been used for teaching an Histology course to medical students for 4 years. Students reaction to them and their use has been gauged by voluntary questionnaires. Of students who responded, 78% found the microfiches made the course easier for them; 76% like the microfiches because they can use them for home study; 77% find them useful for class discussion; 62% like them because of their colour reproduction. A small group of fifteen students, who failed the Histology course the year prior to the introduction of microfiches and subsequently repeated the course, felt they could revise better with the help of the microfiches. Also they felt the course was clearer. Comparison of the examination results of the students for the 4 years preceding the introduction of microfiches with those of the 4 years since, shows an improvement in mean percentage achieved together with a decrease in the standard deviation (s.d.).