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Enhancing the learning experience through the use of a model‐based A&P lab manual
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.575.12
Subject(s) - medical education , mathematics education , active learning (machine learning) , psychology , computer science , multimedia , medicine , artificial intelligence
Students’ ability to learn and remember material presented in anatomy and physiology (A&P) laboratory is largely due to learning strategies they employ. This study examines student success in an A&P course using a custom published lab manual. This manual keeps individual students’ needs in mind and provides clear charts and photographs of materials used in the lab to guide the student through thoughtful examination of the material outside of lab. The study focuses on the first semester of an A&P course with a total of 196 students. Interactive strategies (small group discussions, peer teaching, and group projects) were implemented to encourage students to use information supplied in the manual. Students answered questions related to the interactive learning techniques and the incorporation of a model‐based lab manual into the lab component of A&P. Overall, students preferred the opportunity to examine the lab materials during the traditional lab time and then to refer to photographs of the materials rather than artistic renditions in a lab manual during their own private study. Student performance improved and retention increased over the course of one semester.