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Design, development and evaluation of online interactive simulation software for learning human genetics

Design, Entwicklung und Evaluierung einer internetfähigen Simulationssoftware für den Einsatz im Medizinstudium

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Summary

OBJECTIVE: In this paper, the authors describe the design, development and evaluation of specific simulation software for Cytogenetics training in order to demonstrate the usefulness of computer simulations for both teaching and learning of complex educational content. BACKGROUND: Simulations have a long tradition in medicine and can be very helpful for learning complex content, for example Cytogenetics, which is an integral part of diagnostics in dysmorphology, syndromology, prenatal and developmental diagnosis, reproductive medicine, neuropediatrics, hematology and oncology. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The simulation software was developed as an Interactive Learning Object (ILO) in Java2, following a user-centered approach. The simulation was tested on various platforms (Windows, Linux, Mac-OSX, HP-UX) without any limitations; the evaluation was based on questionnaires and interviews amongst 600 students in 15 groups. CONCLUSION: This simulation has proved its worth in daily teaching since 2002 and further demonstrates that computer simulations can be helpful for both teaching and learning of complex content in Cytogenetics.

Zusammenfassung

ZIELSETZUNG: In dieser Arbeit beschreiben die Autoren Design, Entwicklung und Evaluierung einer internetfähigen Lernsoftware zur Karyotypisierung für den Einsatz im Medizinstudium. Dabei wird auch der Frage nachgegangen, ob Computersimulationen den hohen Anforderungen bei der Vermittlung komplexer Inhalte gerecht werden können. Es wird gezeigt, dass dieser Ansatz sowohl für Lernende als auch für Lehrende Mehrwerte bringt und den traditionellen Methoden in diesem Bereich überlegen ist, wenn die Simulation didaktisch richtig eingesetzt wird. HINTERGRUND: Simulationen haben in der Medizin eine lange Tradition und erweisen sich insbesondere dann als hilfreich, wenn es darum geht, hochkomplexe Zusammenhänge verständlicher darzustellen, wie dieses Beispiel aus der Zytogenetik, einem Spezialgebiet der Humangenetik, zeigt. Die zytogenetische Diagnostik beschäftigt sich mit reproduzierbaren strukturellen und numerischen Veränderungen der menschlichen Chromosomen und kommt in der Dysmorphologie, Syndromologie, Pränatal- und Entwicklungsdiagnostik, Reproduktionsmedizin, Neuropädiatrie, Hämatologie und Onkologie zum Einsatz. MATERIAL UND METHODEN: Die Simulationssoftware wurde als interaktives Lern-Objekt (ILO) entwickelt. Als Entwicklungsumgebung wurde die Java2-Plattform gewählt; die Entwicklung selbst erfolgte nach den Grundsätzen des User-Centered-Design. Die Software wurde Plattform-unabhängig ausgelegt und konnte auf verschiedenen Systemarchitekturen (Windows, Linux, MacOSX, HP-UX) erfolgreich und ohne Beschränkungen getestet werden. Die durchgeführte Evaluierung basierte auf Fragebögen und Interviews mit rund 600 Studenten in 15 Gruppen. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Die Simulationssoftware hat ihre Alltagstauglichkeit seit 2002 im Lehrbetrieb unter Beweis gestellt. Anhand der Evaluierung konnte an diesem Beispiel gezeigt werden, dass diese Lernsoftware sehr gut geeignet ist, den diagnostisch-analytischen Prozess in der Zytogenetik anschaulicher zu vermitteln als die traditionelle papierbasierte Methode. Insbesondere wirkt sich die Einbettung in ein integratives Unterrichtskonzept positiv, sowohl auf Lernende als auch auf Lehrende, aus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Research Unit HCI4MED, Medical University Graz, Graz, Austria

    A. Holzinger

  2. Institute for Medical Biology and Human Genetics, Medical University Graz, Austria

    W. Emberger

  3. Austrian Research Centers, Department for Biomedical Engineering, Austria

    S. Wassertheurer

  4. Tufts University School of Medicine, USA

    L. Neal

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  1. A. Holzinger
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  2. W. Emberger
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  3. S. Wassertheurer
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  4. L. Neal
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Holzinger, A., Emberger, W., Wassertheurer, S. et al. Design, development and evaluation of online interactive simulation software for learning human genetics. Elektrotech. Inftech. 125, 190–196 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00502-008-0537-9

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