USING POWERPOINT/KEYNOTE ANIMATION TO SIMULATE MICROSCOPY.

John T. Woosley* and Howard M. Reisner, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27514 U.S.A.

PURPOSE: Histopathologic study of tissues is essential for the understanding of human diseases. Medical students can more easily appreciate and remember essential pathologic characteristics of diseases when presented as a series of vivid histopathologic images, rather than as descriptive text. Unfortunately, many students become confused when viewing multiple microscopic images of increasing magnification.

METHODS: The animation features (builds and transitions) of Microsoft PowerPoint and Apple Keynote can be used to simulate the microscopic examination of a pathologic slide. Multiple digital microscopic images can be sequentially stacked on a single slide revealing progressively higher magnifications of the image. Such animations can contain visual and spoken annotations. The presentations can be reviewed on computers and exported for viewing on portable media devices such as iPods. Hence, students can simulate microscopic examination of histopathologic processes without having to become proficient in microscopy and do it in a convenient setting of their choice.

RESULTS: Simulation of microscopy using PowerPoint animation has been incorporated into a GI/liver disease course at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine with excellent student acceptance.

CONCLUSION: Application of Keynote and PowerPoint animation techniques to the teaching of histopathology to medical students provides a method to enhance understanding of pathologic processes. This method actively engages student’s attention and provides a vivid learning experience that will prepare them for subsequent clinical training.