Background: Introductory anatomy courses present challenges for educators at many institutions as... more Background: Introductory anatomy courses present challenges for educators at many institutions as they frequently comprise large numbers of students with dissimilar levels of preparedness, belonging to different academic programs. Setting: At Macquarie University, Introduction to Anatomy course enrolls students belonging to four different faculties and programs ranging from health professions to law and archaeology. The failure rate has traditionally been quite high, with two practical tests (mid and end of the semester) being particularly challenging. Several strategies have been employed to improve students’ performance. Intervention: In 2018, a week before each practical test, revision sessions were introduced, where attendance was optional. These four-hour sessions were amalgams of traditional teaching and peer-assisted learning. This study aimed to assess the value of revision sessions by comparing the test results of students who attended and those who did not. Outcome measure...
Modern anatomy education is imbued with humanistic values which manifest primarily in the ethical... more Modern anatomy education is imbued with humanistic values which manifest primarily in the ethical acquisition of bodies for research and education, and respectful treatment of these bodies in anatomy laboratories This humanistic approach is best embedded in the organisation of commemorative ceremonies for body donors This paper presents experiences of preparation and implementation of a commemorative ceremony at Macquarie University, Sydney Local cultural context and university infrastructure were considered when preparing the commemoration It was decided that it will be introduced in stages, starting with a ceremony for anatomy students Students were surveyed about the introduction of the ceremony and their attitudes about its format The results of the survey influenced the format in which the commemoration was conducted The commemoration was introduced in 2019, embedded in the first anatomy lecture Such format was cost effective, caused little disturbance to a complex timetable an...
Anatomy is one of the core pre-clinical subjects in the education of chiropractic students. In th... more Anatomy is one of the core pre-clinical subjects in the education of chiropractic students. In this paper, we argue that the subject of anatomy, apart from its main purpose of teaching students about the structures of the human body within the clinical context, can be utilized in the advancement of a number of other capabilities. One capability includes the development of research skills for chiropractic students. We present two activities devised to contribute towards the development of students’ research skills. One activity is for first year students and another for final year students. The first year student activity involves using osteometric instruments to take measurements between standard landmarks on bones in the osteological collection of Macquarie University’s Chiropractic Department. The activity for final year students involves identification and analysis of pathological conditions in the osteological collection. The Chiropractic health profession is quickly moving towards evidence-based practice. The basic research skills taught by these exercises are essential as a foundation for developing more complex competencies ranging from the usage of complex clinical/research apparatuses and tools to assessing evidence in existing research. The activities we propose are easy to implement, timeefficient and can be applied with a minimum of financial cost. These exercises enable students to learn difficult anatomical material while applying it within a clinical context, improving critical thinking and developing research skills.6 page(s
Background: Introductory anatomy courses present challenges for educators at many institutions as... more Background: Introductory anatomy courses present challenges for educators at many institutions as they frequently comprise large numbers of students with dissimilar levels of preparedness, belonging to different academic programs. Setting: At Macquarie University, Introduction to Anatomy course enrolls students belonging to four different faculties and programs ranging from health professions to law and archaeology. The failure rate has traditionally been quite high, with two practical tests (mid and end of the semester) being particularly challenging. Several strategies have been employed to improve students’ performance. Intervention: In 2018, a week before each practical test, revision sessions were introduced, where attendance was optional. These four-hour sessions were amalgams of traditional teaching and peer-assisted learning. This study aimed to assess the value of revision sessions by comparing the test results of students who attended and those who did not. Outcome measure...
Modern anatomy education is imbued with humanistic values which manifest primarily in the ethical... more Modern anatomy education is imbued with humanistic values which manifest primarily in the ethical acquisition of bodies for research and education, and respectful treatment of these bodies in anatomy laboratories This humanistic approach is best embedded in the organisation of commemorative ceremonies for body donors This paper presents experiences of preparation and implementation of a commemorative ceremony at Macquarie University, Sydney Local cultural context and university infrastructure were considered when preparing the commemoration It was decided that it will be introduced in stages, starting with a ceremony for anatomy students Students were surveyed about the introduction of the ceremony and their attitudes about its format The results of the survey influenced the format in which the commemoration was conducted The commemoration was introduced in 2019, embedded in the first anatomy lecture Such format was cost effective, caused little disturbance to a complex timetable an...
Anatomy is one of the core pre-clinical subjects in the education of chiropractic students. In th... more Anatomy is one of the core pre-clinical subjects in the education of chiropractic students. In this paper, we argue that the subject of anatomy, apart from its main purpose of teaching students about the structures of the human body within the clinical context, can be utilized in the advancement of a number of other capabilities. One capability includes the development of research skills for chiropractic students. We present two activities devised to contribute towards the development of students’ research skills. One activity is for first year students and another for final year students. The first year student activity involves using osteometric instruments to take measurements between standard landmarks on bones in the osteological collection of Macquarie University’s Chiropractic Department. The activity for final year students involves identification and analysis of pathological conditions in the osteological collection. The Chiropractic health profession is quickly moving towards evidence-based practice. The basic research skills taught by these exercises are essential as a foundation for developing more complex competencies ranging from the usage of complex clinical/research apparatuses and tools to assessing evidence in existing research. The activities we propose are easy to implement, timeefficient and can be applied with a minimum of financial cost. These exercises enable students to learn difficult anatomical material while applying it within a clinical context, improving critical thinking and developing research skills.6 page(s
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