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Gross anatomy laboratory for the 21st century
Author(s) -
Todd Gordon L
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a848-b
Subject(s) - usb , computer science , computer graphics (images) , table (database) , ethernet , laptop , 3d printer , zoom , computer hardware , multimedia , operating system , engineering , software , mechanical engineering , petroleum engineering , data mining , lens (geology)
The gross anatomy lab at UNMC has moved into the 21 st century with an innovative computerized system which supports and enhances instructional delivery. This system has been used for two years with tremendous success and might serve as a model for other institutions. Rather than simply introducing computers into the lab as other schools have done, we developed a fully interactive system for each dissection table. A display that everyone at a table could easily view was essential, not just the one or two students standing next to a standard monitor. Video projectors were mounted over each table and a 50″ pull‐down screen at the end. Each projector is connected by video amplifier to PC computers housed in a cabinet in an adjoining room for cooling and controlled by a touch‐screen panel. The system is driven by a standard USB optical mouse at each table. Keyboards are flush mounted to the walls around the lab, but rarely used. USB connections for the keyboards and mice were converted to ethernet, distributed across the ceiling to each table, and then converted back to USB so standard devices could be plugged in and/or replaced as needed. Instructors can take over control of all computers for demonstrations using a digital video camera, for example to show a skull or radiology reviews. This system encourages small groups and is a great teaching tool for the faculty. Students use an interactive dissecting guide linked to Netter's atlas plates that was described at last years AAA meeting. The system has worked flawlessly and has proven to be extremely beneficial and efficient to students and faculty while in the lab. We are in the process of evaluating the impact of our system on student performance.