Abstract:

The recent online teaching experience that students and teachers had to confront, has forced teachers to develop our imagination and creativity, especially when the topic is anatomy. How can we explain the morphology of a bone or a tooth without touching or manipulating them? Anatomical images, like still photographs or drawings are useful to explain and show particular regions. However, anatomy requires students to interact with the element for a better understanding of its shape. We are facing a challenge like this by using 3D anatomical models that allow students to interact with the bones. We have designed a teaching project of virtual anatomy for graduate and undergraduate students that includes the bone collections needed for a specific teaching objective. The idea is to develop osteology virtual models that can be used by students as teaching support materials. The project proposes to create a digital file that includes the anatomical elements we want to teach converted to PDF, that can be used as online teaching material helping the practical lessons. As an example, if we focus on a human evolution lesson, some craniomandibular and dental traits must be comprehended. In this case, if we use a skull of a Primate which has been digitalized by using a 3D surface scanner, the image obtained will be then converted into PDF, a format that can be easily integrated in PowerPoints, a program commonly used by teachers. The file can also be incorporated into a virtual space where students have access and where they can interact with it.

Keywords:

Anatomical models, virtual images, online teaching.