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A new paradigm for teaching histology in Canada's first distributed medical school
Author(s) -
Pinder Karen,
Ford Jason,
Ovalle William K.
Publication year - 2008
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.22.1_supplement.385.7
Subject(s) - curriculum , interactivity , the internet , internet access , computer science , virtual microscopy , videoconferencing , quality (philosophy) , medical education , multimedia , medicine , world wide web , psychology , pathology , pedagogy , philosophy , epistemology
To address the critical problem of inadequate physician supply in rural British Columbia, the University of BC launched an expanded and distributed medical program in 2005. Medical students engage in a common curriculum at 3 geographic sites across BC, in Vancouver, Prince George and Victoria. The distribution of the core Histology course required a thorough revision of our instructional methodology. We here report our progress and address the question “How can Histology be distributed to remote sites while maintaining the highest of educational standards?” Experience at UBC points to 3 specific challenges: (i) ensuring equitable student access to quality histological images, (ii) implementing a technological infrastructure that allows for real‐time teaching and interactivity across sites, and (iii) ensuring student access at all sites to Faculty expertise. High quality images (available through any internet connection) are provided within a new virtual slide box library of 300 light microscopic and 190 electron microscopic images. Our technological needs are met through a videoconference system that allows for live, interactive sharing of visual/audio materials across the 3 sites. This system also ensures student access to Faculty expertise during didactic teaching sessions. Student examination results and surveys demonstrate that the distribution of our Histology curriculum has been successful.