Advanced technology enhances learning at CHHS
Human anatomy remains one of the key courses for students in the College of Health and Human Services. Knowledge of human anatomy is integral for many of the health-related programs in the college. Students' mastery of the class is a reliable indicator for their continued success here at Western Michigan University and beyond. CHHS acquired an Anatomage Table in the fall of 2017 to further support and enhance anatomy education at the college.
This new piece of technology is a high-definition imaging system which offers real human anatomy, pathology cases and thousands of scans that can be viewed from virtually any angle and any cross-section for optimal visibility and understanding. The number of images available on the device make it an amazing resource for students and faculty.
Retention activities
As part of its retention efforts, the college hired several student peer coaches to use the Anatomage Table during one-on-one coaching sessions and with groups of anatomy students to help them study and reinforce what they were learning in class.
"It was great to see these students using the Anatomage Table to learn," says Cassie Watts, CHHS retention project coordinator. "You could tell that they were responding to the technology and were excited about this new learning tool."
In addition to coaching sessions, the Anatomage Table is also available during open hours, when student coaches use the table with students, one-on-one.
While it is too soon to quantify the impact of these activities on student success in their anatomy class or on overall student retention, Watts said there is anecdotal evidence that the Anatomage table has already had a positive impact for some students.
"We look forward to having more meaningful data on student success and retention after a few more semesters of the peer coaching project," Watts said.
Graduate anatomy
Physician assistant students have become the most regular users of the device. Phil Walcott, master faculty specialist in the PA department, teaches the advanced clinical anatomy classes, which include a cadaver lab. He has found the new technology to be extremely useful.
"It definitely won't replace cadaver-based anatomy," says Walcott. "But there are so many images and so much detail available on the Anatomage table that I do think it is a wonderful ancillary to the other work my students are doing."
During his labs, Walcott will send small groups of students from the cadaver lab to the Anatomage room where a graduate assistant is there to walk students through screens and test them on structures and systems they're studying.
"The Anatomage Table allows anatomy students to view structures in a different way than what the cadavers may show," says Alex Christmas, PA graduate assistant. "It can also be beneficial when students want to test their knowledge."
"There has been a bit of a learning curve," says Walcott. "But it gives the students more examples to look at and learn with. And I also think they really like the high-tech approach, as well."