title: Student perceptions of an upper-level, undergraduate human anatomy laboratory course without cadavers.
abstract: Several programs in health professional education require or are considering requiring upper-level human anatomy as prerequisite for their applicants. Undergraduate students are confronted with few institutions offering such a course, in part because of the expense and logistical issues associated with a cadaver-based human anatomy course. This study describes the development of and student reactions to an upper-level human anatomy laboratory course for undergraduate students that used a regional approach and contemporary, alternative teaching methods to a cadaver-based course. The alternative pedagogy to deliver the curriculum included use of commercially available, three-dimensional anatomical virtual dissection software, anatomical models coupled with a learning management system to offer Web-based learning, and a new laboratory manual with collaborative exercises designed to develop the student's anatomical skills and collaborative team skills. A Likert-scale survey with open-ended questions was used to ascertain student perceptions of the course and its various aspects. Students perceived that the noncadaver-based, upper-level human anatomy course with an engaging, regional approach is highly valuable in their learning of anatomy. anatomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Dayton, Dayton, Ohio. swright1@udayton.edu
authors.forename: Shirley J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Wright
mesh_terms: D000715:Anatomy / Q000193:education*; D002102:Cadaver; D032882:Comprehension; D003198:Computer Simulation; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004210:Dissection / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D009820:Ohio; D010379:Peer Group; D010465:Perception; D018794:Problem-Based Learning; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012984:Software; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities