Virtual microscopy for learning and assessment in pathology

TLDR

Virtual slides are high‑magnification digital images stored in a multi‑resolution format that can be viewed in a web browser to closely simulate examination of glass slides with a real microscope. The study reports the successful implementation of virtual microscopy for teaching microscopic pathology and its first use in summative assessment, and notes that the new Medicine programme at the University of New South Wales will use it exclusively for histology and histopathology. Students and teaching staff readily adapted to virtual microscopy, with questionnaire feedback indicating improved learning and image quality, collaborative two‑student workstations fostering engagement, and secure browser assessment running smoothly, showing that high‑quality virtual slides keep microscopic examination meaningful and interesting. © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland; Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract

Abstract Virtual slides are high‐magnification digital images of tissue sections, stored in a multi‐resolution file format. Using appropriate software, these slides can be viewed in a web browser in a manner that closely simulates examination of glass slides with a real microscope. We describe the successful implementation of teaching microscopic pathology with virtual slides and, for the first time, their use in summative assessment. Both students and teaching staff readily adapted to the use of virtual microscopy. Questionnaire feedback from students strongly indicated that virtual slides solved a number of problems in their learning, while providing good to excellent image quality. A deliberate policy of allocating two students per workstation promoted collaboration and helped to maintain interest in microscopic pathology. The use of a secure browser facilitated assessment using virtual slides, with no technical or security issues arising despite high peak demand. The new Medicine programme at the University of New South Wales will exclusively utilize virtual microscopy for the study of both histology and histopathology. We believe that the use of high‐quality learning resources such as virtual slides can ensure that microscopic examination of tissues remains both meaningful and interesting. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.