title: Virtual microscopes in podiatric medical education.
abstract: In many medical schools, microscopes are being replaced as teaching tools by computers with software that emulates the use of a light microscope. This article chronicles the adoption of "virtual microscopes" by a podiatric medical school and presents the results of educational research on the effectiveness of this adoption in a histology course. If the trend toward virtual microscopy in education continues, many 21st-century physicians will not be trained to operate a light microscope. The replacement of old technologies by new is discussed. The fundamental question is whether all podiatric physicians should be trained in the use of a particular tool or only those who are likely to use it in their own practice.
authors.affiliation: Basic Biomedical Sciences, Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, 3333 Green Bay Rd., North Chicago, IL 60064, USA.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000379:methods*; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D046609:Libraries, Digital; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D011032:Podiatry / Q000193:education*; D012577:Schools, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014584:User-Computer Interface