Abstract:

Introduction
Anatomical knowledge is one of the basic and key competencies of several health care professions. Acquiring functional anatomical knowledge requires vast amounts of time spent memorizing and repeating information, typically in the form of the student’s own notes. Neil Fleming’s learning style model suggests the idea that different students have different optimum learning modalities: visual, aural, read/write and kinesthetic. Neither paper based nor current electronic systems support all learning modalities, leaving students with the challenge of organizing and combining notes in different media. We have designed and implemented a prototype version of a software system supporting Fleming’s four learning modalities.

Methods
The system was developed using standard, object oriented software development methods and techniques. The program was developed for English-speaking students. The program was designed to contain different note components supporting Fleming’s four learning modalities, organizing the notes related to a specific anatomical structure. Four evaluators performed a preliminary heuristic evaluation to assess usability. Further heuristic evaluation and think aloud-tests will be performed in summer 2011.

Results
The prototype organizes the notes relating to anatomical structures, and the system contains note components supporting three of Fleming’s four learning modalities: visual, aural and read/write. The anatomical structures included are addable, editable and searchable, and navigable in a tree structure. Selecting an anatomical structure in the tree opens all three current note components regarding the anatomical structure. Each note component has a designated user interface area. The visual note component lets the users add and edit their own illustrations, drawings and figures. The aural note component lets the user dictate and edit spoken notes. The read/write note component lets the user write notes. Prewritten information and figures from a textbook can be added for all the anatomical structures.
The heuristic evaluation showed good agreement with eight of the ten design principles. The principles for “User control and freedom” together with “Flexibility and efficiency of use” are not fully supported yet.

Discussion
We developed a program for note-taking supporting different learning modalities. The different components can be used independently implying that the user can use the program the way that best suits his or her preferred learning style. The program contains very basic components that put together potentially form a very powerful note-taking tool: both hand-drawn figures, digital pictures, dictated notes, and typed notes can be organized and combined in this note-taking program. The kinesthetic learning modality is not supported by the system in its current state but adding a note component with references to e.g. plastic organs or bone models is a possible solution. Future development consists of implementation of support for the kinesthetic learning modality and further usability testing and adaptation.

Keywords:

Anatomy, repetition, learning modalities, software system.