| For more information, contact: Jerry Mastey Editor School of Dentistry (734) 615-1971 jmastey@umich.edu |
Colleen Newvine Information Officer University of Michigan News Service (734) 647-4411 cnewvine@umich.edu |
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Virtual Laboratory & Digital Microscopes Initiative Boosted
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Ann Arbor, MI — November 12, 2003 —The University of Michigan School of Dentistry’s efforts to create a “virtual laboratory” and replace conventional light microscopes with “digital microscopes” have been bolstered with a second grant from the Whitaker Foundation. A $25,000 grant will enable the School to double, to more than 120, the number of digitized pathology and histology cases that dental students will be able to view using both the Internet and digital video discs (DVDs). The funds will also be used to develop an interactive workbook and make the Internet and DVD versions of the case-based pathology course available to fourth-year dental students. The interactive workbook will provide instant feedback on each case to help students evaluate their understanding of the material. The Benefits of Digital Microscopes Second-year dental students use their computer monitors as surrogate microscopes to view images of abnormal tissues that have been collected and archived by the School’s Oral Pathology and Biopsy Service. Previously, specimens on glass sides were viewed by students in groups of six or seven under 20-year-old light microscopes. In some instances, the light microscopes broke down, in others, tissue samples faded or the glass slides cracked and the tissue dried out. Instead of spending $2,500 to replace each light microscope, tissue images have been digitized. Now, all students view the same image at the same resolution. Image quality is considerably sharper and can be shown at various magnifications. Case narratives accompany the digitized images to help students understand pathologic changes in tissues. Building Upon Earlier Successes “The grant from the Whitaker Foundation will enable us to build upon the success we’ve already had the past two years in converting the microscope-based course to a virtual, case-based learning experience,” said project directors, Drs. Carl Hanks and Nisha D’Silva. They pointed out other benefits: eliminating the need to replace or maintain old light microscopes, students saving two hours of class time, and more effective use of time by faculty members. “Previously, two or three faculty members attended the weekly microscope laboratory for three hours and repeated the same material for two consecutive weeks to small groups who used the light microscopes,” Hanks and D’Silva said. “Now just one faculty member spends one hour, every other week, presenting the assigned cases simultaneously to an entire class using projected images from the virtual laboratory.” The second-year dental students can now view approximately 60 images using high-speed Internet connections from the School’s computing center, or from a personal computer at home or apartment that links directly to a designated Web site. Students without a high-speed Internet connection can use a DVD to view images and complete their virtual laboratory assignment. Each DVD has a key-sized coded device, called a “dongle,” that restricts use to one computer at a time. This approach minimizes any attempts to copy a disk which protects the proprietary software used to record and store the images. Since this information is always available, students can personalize their schedules even more and review the material when their schedules allow. How much a student understands is evaluated after class-based virtual laboratory sessions. Under the supervision of a faculty member, students are divided into groups and are given unknown cases that are similar, but not identical to, cases that are assigned for study. Students review clinical photos, radiographs, histopathology and other material on the Web site and answer questions about possible clinical diagnosis and treatment approaches. Students can also review lecture notes and textbooks. This comprehensive approach enables them to develop the collaboration and lifelong learning skills they will rely on extensively after graduation. Bacus Laboratories in suburban Chicago digitizes the images for the course that will soon be available to fourth-year dental students. “The fourth-year students will find this course especially beneficial because it will reinforce the information about lesions that will be so important to them as they enter the world of private practice,” Hanks and D’Silva said. The Internet/DVD approach could become a continuing dental education course that dentists or dental hygienists might be interested in taking at a later date. The University of Michigan School of Dentistry is one of the nation’s leading dental schools engaged in oral health care education, research, patient care, and community service. General dental care clinics and specialty clinics providing advanced treatment enable the School to offer dental services and programs to patients throughout Michigan. Classroom and clinic instruction prepare future dentists, dental specialists, and dental hygienists for practice in private offices, hospitals, academia, and public agencies. Research seeks to discover and apply new knowledge that can help patients worldwide. For more information about the School of Dentistry, visit the Web at http://www.dent.umich.edu. | |||