The positive impact of team-based virtual microscopy on student learning in physiology and histology

The positive impact of team-based virtual microscopy on student learning in physiology and histology. Adv Physiol Educ 31: 261-265, 2007; doi:10.1152/advan.00125.2006.-Team-based virtual microscopy and on-line learning were used to transform the first-year Physiology/ Histology course at The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine into a student-centered learning environment. Prior to each laboratory session, students were required to view prelaboratory virtual lectures and examine digital slides that had been enhanced with annotations and 2-min microlectures. The laboratory classroom was then used for team-based learning exercises including student presentations and small-group discussions designed to integrate histology and physiology. The results of quantitative assessments indicated an 8- to 14-point increase over the identical final exams given over the past 5 yr. Means ( +/- SD) of percent correct answers on the final exam were found to be 75.2% ( 11.1%), 72.5% ( 12.6%), 70.5% ( 12.6%), 73.6% ( 11.3%), 73.1% ( 12.2%), and 84.1% ( 9.1%) for years 2001 2006, respectively. The mean test scores for all other years were statistically lower compared with 2006, as determined by the Bonferroni post hoc multiple-comparison test ( P < 0.001 for all years).