title: Transition of a dental histology course from light to virtual microscopy.
abstract: The transition of the dental histology course at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio Dental School was completed gradually over a five-year period. A pilot project was initially conducted to study the feasibility of integrating virtual microscopy into a traditional light microscopic lecture and laboratory course. Because of the difficulty of procuring quality calcified and decalcified sections of teeth, slides from the student loan collection in the oral histology block of the course were outsourced for conversion to digital images and placed on DVDs along with a slide viewer. The slide viewer mimicked the light microscope, allowing horizontal and vertical movement and changing of magnification, and, in addition, a feature to capture static images. In a survey, students rated the ease of use of the software, quality of the images, maneuverability of the images, and questions regarding use of the software, effective use of laboratory, and faculty time. Because of the positive support from the students, our entire student loan collection of 153 glass slides was subsequently converted to virtual images and distributed on an Apricorn pocket external hard drive. Students were asked to assess the virtual microscope over a four-year period. As a result of the surveys, light microscopes have been totally eliminated, and microscope exams have been replaced with project slide examinations. In the future, we plan to expand our virtual slides and incorporate computer testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cellular and Structural Biology, Dental School, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, TX 78229-3900, USA. weaker@uthscsa.edu
authors.forename: Frank J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Weaker
authors.forename: Damon C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Herbert
mesh_terms: D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000295:instrumentation*; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D004497:Education, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006653:Histology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D010339:Pathology, Oral / Q000193:education*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012575:Schools, Dental; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013781:Texas; D014742:Videodisc Recording