Teaching histology to first-year veterinary science students using virtual microscopy and traditional microscopy: a comparison of student responses.

Virtual microscopy (VM) is a comparatively recent innovation that is revolutionizing both the teaching of microscopic structure in human medicine and the concept of online diagnosis and telemedicine. The interactivity of the various commercially available browsers attempts to simulate the experience of looking down a microscope while offering advantages over traditional microscopy that include clarity of image, reduced infrastructure, and high flexibility, as the images are accessible online. We developed our own VM system, including customized software and a browser that was simple and intuitive to use, with the added advantage of further modifications possible to assist student learning. In this article, we report on a preliminary study wherein VM was introduced to veterinary science students in one course and directly compared to traditional microscopy to determine whether students would readily accept this new technology and which aspects of VM were advantageous. Responses from a survey form showed that students rated VM significantly higher than traditional microscopy as a tool to learn histology because it offers clearer images, the ability to learn collaboratively, more effective use of time, and the flexibility of online learning. Students also indicated a strong preference for the use of VM in future courses. These results suggest that VM is a flexible and enjoyable resource that could be useful to enhance the learning of microscopic structure in veterinary science courses.