Exploring new virtual educational methodologies applicateto cell and tissue biology

Abstract

The area of knowledge of Cell Biology and Histology of the first year of the Degree in Pharmacyand Degree in Human Nutrition and Dietetics of the UPV / EHU, is constituted by the basic subjectCell and Tissue Biology, taught in the first four-month period of both Degrees. It represents a first contactabout the knowledge of the structure and function of living organisms in both grades.One of the competences that students must achieve in the subject is to learn the basic methods forthe study of the cell and the human tissues. In the teaching method of laboratory practices, students traditionallyuse conventional optical microscopy and have a series of histological preparations in whichthey have to identify the training objectives previously explained by the teacher.Virtual Microscopy is an alternative methodological resource to classical classroom practices. It is atechnological tool that allows the visualization of high resolution microscopic digital images through acomputer, imitating the functionality of a traditional optical microscope.To do this, a database of digital images was created (virtual repository) that allows the computersimulation of an optical microscope with free software. The collection of images, as well as the software,were made available to the students through the virtual campus, together with the instructions for the tasks to be completed at non attending hours of class and acting as additional material to the laboratorypractices. Finally, an electronic survey was designed through eGela platform with the purpose of evaluatingthe students’ experience in the use of virtual microscopy.The results showed that the combined methodology of the optical microscope in the laboratoryand the virtual microscope has resulted in a very useful tool for the visualization and interpretation ofthe histological samples and thus to achieve the practical knowledge of the subject.This methodology allows developing the transversal competence of autonomous work favouringthe study through a virtual experience that reinforces the content of the practices and enables theflipped classroom method, focusing the class on the resolution of problems and possible doubts.