An Exploratory Study of Educators' Perspectives Towards Hospital School Program Support for Children with Special Health Care Needs After Hospitalization.

More than 14 million children in the United States are identified as children with special healthcare needs (CSHCN). Rates of hospitalization for CSHCN with chronic conditions as well as re-admissions have been increasing in recent years. For hospitalized children transitioning back to their school of record, a host of issues may arise such as socioemotional concerns, peer rejection, and being behind in academics. Hospital-based school programs (HBSPs) play an important role in the transition back to a child's school of record. Utilizing a database of inpatient CSHCN at a midwestern children's hospital's HBSP, private and public-school educators associated with the previously hospitalized CSHCN were asked to complete an online survey to gather their perspectives related to the child's transition back to the school of record upon hospital discharge. Overall, educators' perspectives of the HBSP were positive while perceptions related to communication provided by the HBSP were mixed. Educators surveyed reported a lack of training related to working with CSHCN. Finally, accommodations and services offered to students upon return to school focused mostly on academic performance and attendance. Study limitations and implications for practice in schools are discussed.

Prior anatomy experience among medical students: What difference does it make?

Prior research has reported that experience in undergraduate anatomy did not significantly affect students' grades in professional schools, yet students would still recommend anatomy experience prior to medical school. It has been further posited that this prior experience may have benefits that do not appear in grade outcomes, such as decreased stress levels or different study strategies. The present study investigated whether different study strategies in anatomy were reported between students with and without prior experience. The data were collected using surveys administered near the beginning and the end of the medical anatomy course. The surveys included questions about study strategies used for the course, basic demographics, and prior experience in anatomy and/or physiology. Results confirmed very few differences in course outcomes between students with and without prior experience in anatomy and/or physiology; however, differences were noted in the study strategies reported. Students with prior experience in anatomy were more likely to report use of a wider variety of strategies and less changes in strategies between the surveys. However, these differences were only noted with prior courses of a certain number and level. It is posited that students with prior experience may have already created a basic scaffold of information in their mind that they could then plug additional information into rather than creating an entirely new knowledge structure. While this did not largely change course outcomes, it is likely to have positive effects on students' perceptions of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed during the course.

The IUSM Medical Education Scholarly Concentration: Training Medical Students to Become Future Clinical Educators.

Indiana University School of Medicine - Bloomington launched the Medical Education Scholarly Concentration in 2020. This application-based enrichment program trains medical students to become effective clinical educators through pedagogical coursework, introduction to education research methods, and the development of a scholarly concentration product for publication.

Do the benefits continue? Long term impacts of the Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI) 2017.

BACKGROUND: The Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI) was held in Bloomington, Indiana in July of 2017. Previous research has shown that AERI was successful in meeting Kirkpatrick's first two levels of evaluation via positive initial reactions and learning gains identified at the end of AERI. This manuscript demonstrates continued success in Kirkpatrick levels two and three via six-month and thirty-month follow-up surveys and nine-month follow-up focus groups and interviews. METHODS: Quantitative analyses were completed using Microsoft Excel (2019) and SPSS version 26 while qualitative analyses were completed for both survey responses and focus groups/interviews using thematic analyses. RESULTS: Results demonstrate that the learning gains seen immediately post-AERI 2017 were sustained for all participants (accepted applicants and invited speakers). Qualitative results continued to demonstrate positive reactions to AERI 2017. Both quantitative and qualitative results demonstrated that the main obstacle to educational research for most participants is time, while collaboration, IRB, institutional roadblocks, and devaluing of educational research were also identified as obstacles. CONCLUSIONS: The research presented here indicates positive outcomes to Kirkpatrick Levels 1, 2, & 3 of evaluation following AERI 2017. However, substantial obstacles still exist for researchers in medical education. The need for a sustained community of practice for educational researchers was suggested as a potential buffer against these obstacles and multiple options for providing that community are discussed.

Construction of Knowledge Through Doing: A Brachial Plexus Model from Pipe Cleaners.

Medical students often struggle with the complexity of the brachial plexus, so instructions were developed for making a model of the brachial plexus from pipe cleaners following a didactic presentation of the material. Providing students the opportunity to construct the brachial plexus reduced cognitive overload, thus allowing students' working memory to attend to pertinent information and create mental schema of the structures. This activity allows the students to actively engage with the material and have a model from which to study with minimal cost requirements. The model was initially utilized in the final unit of a stand-alone gross anatomy course, followed closely by both a unit exam and a cumulative standardized exam. The following year, the curriculum was significantly changed so that the activity was presented during the first unit of the course followed closely by the unit exam and the cumulative final exam several months later. Students were surveyed on their opinions of the activity, perceived understanding of the material, and utilization of the model. Results demonstrated that students enjoyed the activity and felt it improved their understanding of the brachial plexus, especially in the second scenario. Students responded positively to the activity and felt that it would make a good study tool. In the second scenario, students also reported using the model to study throughout the semester. These results indicate that this low-cost model was helpful to the students, particularly if they need to study the material over an extended period of time. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40670-021-01274-2.

Changing Study Strategies with Revised Anatomy Curricula: a Move for Better or Worse?

Investigations into medical student study strategies have seen an increase in recent years, but we have also seen a move to more integrated medical curricula during this time. This manuscript endeavors to assess the changes in study plans and students' reported study strategies that are associated with a move from a traditional stand-alone anatomy curriculum to an integrated, standardized curriculum. Previously validated study strategy surveys were given to medical students at the beginning of their anatomy course and again at the end of the course. These responses were then correlated with basic demographic information and outcomes in anatomy. Results indicate that this change in curriculum does correlate with changes to students' study plans and reported study strategies. In particular, the plans for and use of web-based resources appear higher in the new curriculum while the use of self-quizzing and attendance appear lower, with potentially negative implications for understanding and long-term retention. Differences were also seen between genders and student ages. Finally, a few associations with outcomes are also noted for increased use of web-based resources and student confidence going into the exam.

Knowledge Gains and Changing Attitudes from the Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI 2017): A Mixed Methods Analysis.

The inaugural Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI 2017) was held in Bloomington, Indiana in July of 2017. This workshop style conference paired experienced educational researchers (invited speakers) with individuals interested in learning more about the field (accepted applicants). In 2017, AERI was held over a five-day period and entailed plenary style presentations, break-out sessions, and specific times for small group mentorship. All participants (applicants and invited speakers) completed a pre-conference survey at the beginning of the institute and a post-conference survey at the end of the institute. Both surveys included categorical and Likert scale questions as well as open-ended questions for participant feedback. Quantitative and qualitative analyses indicate that both applicants and speakers increased their knowledge of anatomy education research, but that additional obstacles remain. Funding, time, and a lack of respect for the field remain problematic for faculty that wish to complete educational research. Mentorship and a community of practice also emerged as major themes necessary for educational research to be successful.

Plans in Perspective: a Pilot Study of Medical Student Study Strategies in Physiology.

Students learn a great deal when they study course material outside of our classrooms, but we have little hard evidence of what they are actually doing during that time and how it varies over the course of the semester. This exploratory pilot study asked first-year medical students to complete study strategy surveys at the beginning and again at the end of a stand-alone physiology course. Responses to these surveys were then grouped into categories, and analyses were completed using above average and below average final grades in the course. The amount of change that occurred in individual student responses between pre-course and post-course surveys was also calculated. Results found that students with above average course grades were more likely to study with other students, make their own resources, and have lower grade expectations coming into the course than their peers with below average outcomes. Results also indicated that changing fewer study strategies may also be correlated with higher grades. Unfortunately, the sample sizes for this study are quite small, and additional data is unavailable locally due to curricular changes. It is hoped that other researchers may be able to further evaluate these ideas.

Another Nail in the Coffin for Learning Styles? Disparities among Undergraduate Anatomy Students' Study Strategies, Class Performance, and Reported VARK Learning Styles.

The concept and existence of learning styles has been fraught with controversy, and recent studies have thrown their existence into doubt. Yet, many students still hold to the conventional wisdom that learning styles are legitimate, and may adapt their outside of class study strategies to match these learning styles. Thus, this study aims to assess if undergraduate anatomy students are more likely to utilize study strategies that align with their hypothetical learning styles (using the VARK analysis from Fleming and Mills, , Improve Acad. 11:137-155) and, if so, does this alignment correlate with their outcome in an anatomy course. Relatedly, this study examines whether students' VARK learning styles are correlated with course outcomes regardless of the students' study strategies, and whether any study strategies are correlated with course outcomes, regardless of student-specific VARK results. A total of 426 anatomy students from the 2015 and 2016 Fall semesters completed a study strategies survey and an online VARK questionnaire. Results demonstrated that most students did not report study strategies that correlated with their VARK assessment, and that student performance in anatomy was not correlated with their score in any VARK categories. Rather, some specific study strategies (irrespective of VARK results), such as use of the virtual microscope, were found to be positively correlated with final class grade. However, the alignment of these study strategies with VARK results had no correlation with anatomy course outcomes. Thus, this research provides further evidence that the conventional wisdom about learning styles should be rejected by educators and students alike. Anat Sci Educ. © 2018 American Association of Anatomists.

Development and Implementation of the Inaugural Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI 2017).

Education research is increasingly being recognized as a legitimate route for faculty development in universities. However, many anatomy faculty lack the appropriate training and access to experienced mentors who can help them develop their own education research projects. Inspired by the American Physiological Society's Institute for Teaching and Learning, the coauthors proposed and developed the inaugural Anatomy Education Research Institute (AERI 2017). Funded by an American Association of Anatomists Innovations grant, the five-day institute was held in Bloomington, Indiana in July 2017. The coauthors spent two years preparing the conference schedule, inviting speakers who could discuss education research topics and mentor applicants, reviewing applications, developing assessment instruments for the institute, and hosting the institute. A total of 62 registered participants (applicants and invited speakers) attended AERI 2017. Through a series of presentations and workshops, participants were introduced to many aspects of education research and the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, including developing rigorous education research questions, determining appropriate methods to assess these questions, and searching the education research literature. Each day also included regular time devoted to work on their own education research project with help from more experienced mentors. Throughout the conference, participants were encouraged to post information on Twitter, using the hashtag #AERI2017. Participants had strong positive impressions of the conference and strongly requested future AERI conferences be held. Follow-up analyses will assess the institute in alignment with Kirkpatrick's Four Levels of Evaluation Model, though preliminary evaluation indicates AERI 2017 met the original aims of the proposal.

Study skills in anatomy and physiology: Is there a difference?

Many factors influence the way individual students study, including but not limited to: previous coursework, attitudes toward the class (motivation, intimidation, risk, etc.), metacognition, and work schedules. However, little of this research has involved medical students. The present article asks the question, "Do individual medical students study differently for different classes?" Study skills surveys were given to United States medical students at an allopathic medical school and an osteopathic medical school. Students were surveyed near the end of their first year gross anatomy course and again near the end of their first year physiology course. Survey items included Likert scale and open-ended questions about study habits and basic demographic information. The survey responses were correlated with each student's final grade percentages in the courses. Analysis revealed that the four most common study habits were reviewing lecture notes, taking practice examinations, completing learning exercises, and making drawings and diagrams. The two surveys (anatomy and physiology) from each individual were also compared to see if students reported different study habits in anatomy versus physiology. A negative correlation was found between changing study habits between courses and final anatomy grade percentages. Additional analyses suggest that those students who do change their study habits between courses are increasing the number of study strategies that they attempt. This increase in the number of study strategies attempted may not allow the student to reach the same depth of understanding as their colleagues who utilize fewer strategies.

In the eye of the beholder: sex and race estimation using the human orbital aperture.

From the works of Broca and Krogman to modern-day Jantz and Buikstra, the orbit has been used for both quantitative and qualitative sex and race estimation. This study evaluates the practical value of these estimations. Orbital height and breadth were measured to determine the orbital index and assess differences between men and women or black people and white people in the Hamann-Todd Collection. Replicability of these measures was also examined. Finally, a geometric morphometric study was performed to assess shape differences using the entire margin. Significant differences were found in both the index and the geomorphometric study; however, further investigation revealed that the differences were of little practical use. The measurement differences were found to be smaller than intra-observer error, while the geometric morphometric analysis demonstrated that minimal percentage of variation in shape was attributable to group differences. Thus, these techniques should not be used to estimate sex or race.

Quantitative and qualitative changes in teaching histology by means of virtual microscopy in an introductory course in human anatomy.

This study compares overall laboratory averages and individual test scores along with a student survey to determine the effects of using virtual microscopy in place of optical microscopes in a large undergraduate human anatomy course. T-tests revealed that the first two laboratory examinations (of four) and the overall laboratory averages were significantly increased compared with the previous year. We hypothesize that this is due to students' ability to use and understand the technology quickly as opposed to learning how to maneuver an optical microscope. Students also responded positively in a survey about the virtual microscope, indicating that increased accessibility, ease of use, and the ability to understand the material were important components of the virtual microscope. In addition, an increase in student collaboration was noted because multiple students were able to view the image at a time. This level of acceptance of virtual microscopy has been reported in previous studies, though this level of increased examination scores is rare. We attribute this to differences between the medical students, with whom this technology has been researched in the past, and undergraduate introductory students.