Using a high-resolution wall-sized virtual microscope to teach undergraduate medical students

  • Authors:

  • Rebecca Randell;Gordon Hutchins;John Sandars;Thilina Ambepitiya;Darren Treanor;Rhys Thomas;Roy Ruddle

  • Affiliations:

  • University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK;Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust & University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;University of Leeds, Leeds, UK;University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

  • Venue:
  • CHI '12 Extended Abstracts on Human Factors in Computing Systems
  • Year:
  • 2012

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Abstract

The Leeds Virtual Microscope is an interactive visualization system, capable of rendering gigapixel virtual slides onto high-resolution, wall-sized displays. We describe the evaluation of this technology for teaching pathology to undergraduate medical students, providing insights into the use of high-resolution, wall-sized displays in an educational context. Students were quickly able to become confident in using the technology, collaboratively exploring virtual slides in order to understand the mechanisms of disease. Being able to point with a finger to features on virtual slides promoted multi-way interaction between the students and tutor, led to the spontaneous expansion of the tutorial's scope, and was indicative of a high level of engagement. Students were very positive about being able to interact with the virtual slides and described their increased enthusiasm for pathology as a subject.