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Virtual microscopy for learning and assessment in pathology
Author(s) -
Kumar Rakesh K,
Velan Gary M,
Korell Sami O,
Kandara Madan,
Dee Fred R,
Wakefield Denis
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1658
Subject(s) - virtual microscopy , digital pathology , telepathology , computer science , summative assessment , multimedia , virtual reality , virtual laboratory , quality (philosophy) , pathology , human–computer interaction , artificial intelligence , medicine , psychology , health care , philosophy , telemedicine , epistemology , formative assessment , economics , economic growth , pedagogy
Virtual slides are high‐magnification digital images of tissue sections, stored in a multi‐resolution file format. Using appropriate software, these slides can be viewed in a web browser in a manner that closely simulates examination of glass slides with a real microscope. We describe the successful implementation of teaching microscopic pathology with virtual slides and, for the first time, their use in summative assessment. Both students and teaching staff readily adapted to the use of virtual microscopy. Questionnaire feedback from students strongly indicated that virtual slides solved a number of problems in their learning, while providing good to excellent image quality. A deliberate policy of allocating two students per workstation promoted collaboration and helped to maintain interest in microscopic pathology. The use of a secure browser facilitated assessment using virtual slides, with no technical or security issues arising despite high peak demand. The new Medicine programme at the University of New South Wales will exclusively utilize virtual microscopy for the study of both histology and histopathology. We believe that the use of high‐quality learning resources such as virtual slides can ensure that microscopic examination of tissues remains both meaningful and interesting. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.