The Virtual Anatomy Lab: an eDemonstrator pedagogical agent can simulate student-faculty interaction and promote student engagement

dc.creator	Nadine Wiper-Bergeron
dc.creator	Alireza Jalali
dc.creator	Beata Patasi
dc.creator	Maxwell Hincke
dc.creator	Jonathan Weber
dc.date	2012-01-01T00:00:00Z
dc.date.accessioned	2015-07-20T22:15:54Z
dc.date.available	2015-07-20T22:15:54Z
dc.identifier	10.4081/med.2012.e5
dc.identifier	2038-9531
dc.identifier	2038-954X
dc.identifier	https://doaj.org/article/c94b2649a1eb42dc9bf4d1cbf483d256
dc.identifier.uri	http://evidence.thinkportal.org/handle/123456789/18008
dc.description	As medical curricula evolve, many universities have adopted a clinical case-centered medical curriculum with a strong focus on small group learning and reduction of traditional lectures such that anatomy has become a self-taught subject supported by e-learning modules. One caveat of this approach is decreased student-faculty interaction and reduced student engagement. Thus use of e-learning must be balanced with the need for continued student-faculty interaction to promote healthy student engagement. To both support self-directed learning of anatomy and to simulate student-faculty interaction, we created the Virtual Anatomy Lab (VAL) that features a human pedagogical agent, called the eDemonstrator, who guides student navigation through the available learning resources. The VAL was evaluated using a mixed methods approach (usage statistics and focus groups) by two medical student populations at the University of Ottawa: first year medical students in a revised curriculum where anatomy lectures were abolished and laboratory sessions were self-taught, and second year medical students in the former curriculum in which anatomy lectures were given in advance of each laboratory session. We conclude that online modules such as the VAL, well designed with a human pedagogical agent, can be used within the curriculum without negatively impacting student engagement. Ethical Approval for this study was obtained from the Ottawa Hospital Research Ethics Board (protocol number #2009055-01H).
dc.language	English
dc.publisher	PAGEPress Publications
dc.relation	http://www.pagepress.org/journals/index.php/med/article/view/4253
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2038-9531
dc.relation	https://doaj.org/toc/2038-954X
dc.rights	CC BY-NC
dc.source	Medical Education Development, Vol 2, Iss 1, Pp e5-e5 (2012)
dc.subject	anatomy, pedagogical agent, virtual learning environment, undergraduate medical education
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	DOAJ:Education
dc.subject	DOAJ:Social Sciences
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.subject	Special aspects of education
dc.subject	LC8-6691
dc.subject	Education
dc.subject	L
dc.title	The Virtual Anatomy Lab: an eDemonstrator pedagogical agent can simulate student-faculty interaction and promote student engagement
dc.type	article