Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS) has launched a new digital anatomy resource for students. The Anatomy Laboratory Interface (ALI) was designed and created by the Anatomy and Technology-Enhanced Learning teams at BSMS to assist students with their remote learning of anatomy.
ALI is a bespoke interface for handheld devices that compiles access to multifarious digital anatomy resources into one clear and secure gateway for use at the dissection table, within global human dissection laboratories. It enables both institutional and commercial products to be presented to students in a ‘friendly and clear’ manner in a way that is also mindful of the Human Tissue Authority (HTA) requirements.
Professor Claire Smith, Head of Anatomy at BSMS, says: "The majority of anatomy departments in the UK use iPads as a source of information for students. There are several commercial apps available to assist students with their learning of anatomy. However, it is up to each higher education institution to ensure they use such devices within the remit of the HTA. This presents the same challenges that BSMS faced and hence this product provides a very niche solution. To our knowledge this the only anatomy interface designed for users to access institution-based material as well as commercial products."
CJ Taylor, BSMS Learning Technologist who developed the platform, says: "This App gives user the ability to access, a variety of resources on a handheld device, while working at the dissection table. The functionality of the app and been extended during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable students, to continue to use these resources externally as they would in a dissection laboratory."
Dr Danya Stone, Lecturer in Anatomy, adds: "Restrictions imposed by the initial COVID-19 lockdown meant that students were unable to experience cadaveric dissection in the anatomy laboratory. In response, a series of videos of cadaveric specimens were created by the anatomy team. The app provides a secure platform to access the sensitive content in these videos. Additionally, through the app it is possible to share these resources with other departments within the Universities of Brighton and Sussex."
ALI joins other digital platforms developed by BSMS, including CAPSULE, the quiz-based mobile app and learning platform which consists of more than 690 medical, surgical, and therapeutic clinical scenarios; and the virtual work experience (VWEX) programme, which launched last year to widen participation for those from non-traditional medical backgrounds and has been utilised by more than 27,500 participants around the world.
To find out more about ALI, watch our short introductory video and download the brochure below.
Download the brochure here >
The app is available to download on the itunes store and Android via the links below.
Download on Apple here >
Download on Android here >