Abstract:
Introduction and objectives: Different learning tools have been used in teaching anatomy. With advancing technology, computer assisted teaching/learning methods have been introduced to medical curricula. This study was carried out to determine the views of medical students regarding the use of audio visual presentations (AVPs) in teaching/learning Anatomy at the Faculty of Medical Sciences (FMS), University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJP).
Method: Altogether 146 students of the 2012/2013 A/L intake to FMS, USJP completed a simple self-administered questionnaire regarding anatomy teaching/learning.
Results: Students considered cadaver dissections (CD) as their most favoured method of learning anatomy [80.8 % (118/146)] followed by dissection hall teaching [77.3% (113/146)], tutorials [66.4% (97/146)}, learning from AVP [50% (73/146)] and lectures [49.3%(72/146)]. The majority 44.4% (52/117) of students who did the A/L in the Sinhala medium had a better understanding of AVP while 50% (7/14) of students who did A/L in the English medium had the best understanding. 59.6% (87/146) and 90.4% (132/146) wanted AVP to be shown after the relevant lecture and during the dissections periods respectively. Most students [87.7% (128/146)] believe that learning anatomy cannot be done only by AVPs' and that they can gain more [68.5% (100/146)] if they read around the AVP topic prior to the presentation. Students stated that CDs should not be replaced [93.2% (136/146)] by AVPs even though the three dimensional orientation of difficult dissection areas could be easily grasped [(91.8% (134/ 146)] by watching AVPs.
Conclusion: Cadaver dissections continue as the most preferred teaching/learning method in anatomy with an increasing trend in using AVP. The majority of students think that cadaver dissections should not be replaced by computer assisted techniques.
