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...
Objective Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning method in which student teams participa... more Objective Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning method in which student teams participate in individual work, teamwork, and the application of learned concepts to problem solving. It has been widely adopted in the education of health professions. The aim of this study was to assess whether TBL in tutorials would be beneficial to students' assessed knowledge and subjective sense of satisfaction as compared to traditional modes of teaching. Methods In 2018, TBL was introduced into the tutorials of a clinically oriented undergraduate course of neuroanatomy, and its benefits in improving student grades and satisfaction were assessed. The Welch 2 sample t test was used for group differences in continuous variables, and Pearson's χ2 test with Yates' continuity correction was used for group differences in dichotomous variables. Linear modeling was used to look for group differences while adjusting for significant baseline characteristics. Results Our study found that ...
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...
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...
Objective Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning method in which student teams participa... more Objective Team-based learning (TBL) is an active learning method in which student teams participate in individual work, teamwork, and the application of learned concepts to problem solving. It has been widely adopted in the education of health professions. The aim of this study was to assess whether TBL in tutorials would be beneficial to students' assessed knowledge and subjective sense of satisfaction as compared to traditional modes of teaching. Methods In 2018, TBL was introduced into the tutorials of a clinically oriented undergraduate course of neuroanatomy, and its benefits in improving student grades and satisfaction were assessed. The Welch 2 sample t test was used for group differences in continuous variables, and Pearson's χ2 test with Yates' continuity correction was used for group differences in dichotomous variables. Linear modeling was used to look for group differences while adjusting for significant baseline characteristics. Results Our study found that ...
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...
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Papers by Joyce EL-Haddad