Academic Journal
Exploring 3D anatomy: A free online course supporting novice learner inquiry and spatial conceptualization.
| Τίτλος: | Exploring 3D anatomy: A free online course supporting novice learner inquiry and spatial conceptualization. |
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| Συγγραφείς: | Zhang J; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.; The James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, UK., Sachdeva M; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK., McCaig C; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK., Gordon E; Learning and Teaching Development Service, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK., Shapiro L; The Department of Family, Community and Emergency Care, Primary Health Care Team, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa., Keenan ID; School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. |
| Πηγή: | Anatomical sciences education [Anat Sci Educ] 2026 Oct; Vol. 19 (10), pp. 1611-1632. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 Jun 11. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, Inc Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101392205 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1935-9780 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19359772 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Anat Sci Educ Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Anatomy*/education , Education, Medical, Undergraduate*/methods , Education, Distance*/methods , Computer-Assisted Instruction*/methods , Students, Medical*/psychology , Students, Medical*/statistics & numerical data , Imaging, Three-Dimensional*, Problem-Based Learning/methods ; Humans ; Curriculum ; United Kingdom ; South Africa ; Focus Groups ; Academia ; Female |
| Περίληψη: | Application of three-dimensional anatomical knowledge is essential for patient examination, diagnosis, and treatment and is crucial in the training of medical and healthcare students. Moreover, critical observation and spatial awareness are vital for learner understanding of three-dimensional anatomical structures and relationships. However, there are logistical barriers to curricular integration of teaching that explicitly targets these skills. Exploring 3D Anatomy is an open online course, collaboratively produced at two universities in the United Kingdom and South Africa, and available free of charge to institutional and non-institutional users via Canvas (Instructure Europe, London, UK). The course is designed to develop three-dimensional spatial awareness remotely, using accessible household objects and art-based learning. Exploring 3D Anatomy is underpinned by pedagogical principles including multimodal, experiential, and social learning; critical observation and visualization; and evidence-informed art-based learning approaches including Haptico-visual observation and drawing and Observe-reflect-draw-edit-repeat. A phenomenological study was implemented to investigate learner perceptions of the pedagogical, social, and practical elements of Exploring 3D Anatomy. Undergraduate medical students (n = 8) at a United Kingdom medical school participated in two focus groups. Combined themes were constructed using double-coding and interpretative phenomenological analysis. A nested set of four themes was produced, each comprising a dichotomy or spectrum of views between opposing sub-themes: Inquiry (Strategic-Exploratory); Dialogue (Knowledge-Understanding); Cognition (Compartmental-Conceptual); Experience (Novice-Advanced). This work provides insights and implications for educators seeking to provide training in important but neglected skills beyond the boundaries of formal curricula, through implementation of flexible, accessible, and remote learning and training strategies in anatomical education. (© 2026 The Author(s). Anatomical Sciences Education published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Association for Anatomy.) |
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| Grant Information: | Faculty of Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences, Newcastle University; Careers Service, Newcastle University |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: anatomical illustration; anatomy education; anatomy teaching; digital anatomy; gross anatomy; topographic anatomy |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260612 Date Completed: 20261011 Latest Revision: 20261013 |
| Update Code: | 20261013 |
| PubMed Central ID: | PMC13654059 |
| DOI: | 10.1002/ase.70288 |
| PMID: | 42277945 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1935-9780 |
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| DOI: | 10.1002/ase.70288 |