The HOME tutor: a new tool for training in microscope skills

AxioHOME is a new concept in microscope design. It is a microscope with a visual display unit mounted in the head permitting computer generated displays to be projected on to the real microscope image when viewed down the eyepieces. This allows the annotation of the microscope image with both text and graphics. The AxioHOME system was used for the construction of complex interactive tutorials for the training and assessment of students. The basis of a tutorial is that features of interest on a microscope slide are indicated to the student who is then provided with either information or questions about those features. In turn the student can also annotate the slide with comments for later discussion with the teacher. The system therefore allows a dialogue between teacher and student. The creation of tutorials is time consuming. It takes approximately 10 min of teacher time to create 1 min of student time. However since the same tutorial can be used by numerous students this releases the teacher from repetitive training. The student response to this teaching method has been very positive. The main criticism being that insufficient teaching material was available.