Traditional Vs. modern- medical education and training strategy
Learning about human anatomy is an important part of medical training. Dental news about anatomy often highlights the evolving methods used to teach this crucial subject. Traditionally, human anatomy was taught using preserved specimens, anatomical models, lectures, cadaveric dissections, 2-dimensional (2D) image representations (e.g., tomographic scans and textbook illustrations), and live patients.
The recent advent of computational technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) technology and augmented reality (AR), has replaced several traditional teaching methods. In the 1990s, basic computer-assisted anatomy programs were developed and implemented in educational institutes. The continual advancements in software and hardware and the advent of computer-based stereoscopy paved the ground for the future development of VR and AR, topics frequently discussed in dental news about anatomy.
In the field of medicine, several AR-based programs have been designed and categorized into two sub-groups, namely, treatment programs and training programs. The treatment programs help patients and practitioners within a clinical or hospital setting, such as surgical procedures, therapies, and rehabilitation. The training programs are specially designed for medical education and training in academic settings. To run an AR application, tablets or smartphones, as well as AR glasses, are required. Dental news about anatomy often covers these technological advancements and their applications in education and clinical practice.
AR programs are increasingly used in medical education and training because of their flexibility in integrating physical and virtual environments. The enhancement in reality in education is achieved through auditory, haptic (touch), and even olfactory information and feedback. Importantly, a partial augmentation of the real environment allows controlling the level of exposure, which helps shape the learning experience. Such innovations are regularly featured in dental news about anatomy.
Instead of the traditional use of silicone or physical models, educators encourage students to download AR applications on their smartphones/tablets or use websites to study human anatomy. In addition to the educational institutes’ in-house AR programs, many free AR applications are also available online, such as visiblebody.com. These developments in AR technology are often highlighted in dental news about anatomy, emphasizing their impact on modern medical education.
