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Quantification of Pattern Recognition Skills Acquisition in Histology Using an Eye‐Tracking Device: First‐Step Toward Evidence‐Based Histology Education
Author(s) -
Kahl Jessica,
Carry Patrick,
Lee Lisa
Publication year - 2015
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.29.1_supplement.689.4
Subject(s) - virtual microscopy , histology , curriculum , eye tracking , medical education , tracking (education) , computer science , adaptation (eye) , psychology , medicine , artificial intelligence , pathology , neuroscience , pedagogy
Virtual histology laboratories (VHL) are increasingly used in histology and pathology courses in medical, dental and graduate curricula across North America. With technological advancements, there is the opportunity to track the learning process to achieving histology competency. The objective of the study was to quantitatively elucidate how learning takes place specifically in a visually oriented subject such as histology. Fourteen, first year graduate students enrolled in histology course were recruited. Using an eye‐tracking device, the recruits' eye‐movements, task‐based and free interactions with the virtual tissue slides on an existing VHL program were recorded and analyzed for emerging patterns across time and evolving level of expertise. The same data points were collected for five, second year students who completed the course a year ago and three histology experts for comparison. The results show that all first‐year students decreased the amount of time it took to identify a tissue and demonstrated increase in pattern recognition skills as the course progressed. With increasing skills, the eye‐movement patterns of the first year students approached those of the experts. Quantitative analyses reveal that expert level of pattern recognition skills were characterized by longer saccadic movements over key areas of interest and overall, faster determination on tissue identity. By extracting key areas of interest and elucidating a quantitative pattern of the most effective way of approaching histological tissues, future students may benefit from implementing the evidence‐based approach presented.