Peer Review

Anatomy Atlases

Material Detail page

Reviewed:: Mar 28, 2014 by Biology

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Ratings

Overall Rating:

Content Quality:

Effectiveness:

Ease of Use:

Overview:

Anatomy Atlases is a collection of anatomy reference materials atlases that were formerly maintained at the University of Iowa's Virtual Hospital site. This page is the portal to the following atlases: Atlas of Human Anatomy, Atlas of Human Anatomy in cross section, Atlas of Microscopic Anatomy - A Functional Approach, Anatomy of First Aid - A Case Study Approach, Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation, and Lessons from a Bone Box. Each atlas has a table of contents and provides in depth information on aspects of human anatomy. In addition, the site provides links to related digital libraries including links to medicine, radiology, and pediatric sites.

Type of Material:

Collection of study materials for Anatomy courses

Recommended Uses:

Supplementary material for Anatomy/Histology course

Technical Requirements:

Web browser and Quick Time

Identify Major Learning Goals:

Anatomy Atlases is an anatomy digital health sciences library that has been uniquely committed since 2006 and through its predecessors since 1995 to provide a platform that serves to educate patients, healthcare providers and students.

Educational Objectives of anatomyatlases.org are based upon the ACGME General Competencies:
The learner will acquire knowledge of the anatomic discipline
The learner will improve his/her analytical thinking skills
The learner will analyze his/her own learning needs for needed improvement
The learner will use evidence from scientific studies to answer the questions posed
Some learners will use this information to facilitate the learning of others including patients, families, and health care providers

Target Student Population:

Upper level college, graduate and professional college students

Prerequisite Knowledge or Skills:

College level anatomy course

Content Quality

Rating:

Strengths:

Comprehensive, well organized and easy to follow material.
Core content is presented in each atlas.
Most images are clear and comprehensively labeled.
Contents are informed by scholarship with references provided within each atlas.
Contains links to several other digital databases.

Concerns:

Some labels are hard to see.

Potential Effectiveness as a Teaching Tool

Rating:

Strengths:

Site contains multiple databases that could be incorporated into class materials
Some of the atlases, such as Atlas of Microscopic Anatomy - A Functional Approach, can stand alone.
Materials could be used for either directed or self study
Depth and breadth of information provided is exceptional; few topics would be missed
Medical orientation makes site fit well with allied health courses

Concerns:

Information is so detailed that beginning students may have difficulty locating appropriate course level contents.
To effectively use sites will require development of assignments guiding undergraduate students to correct information.
Color of some of the images makes the labels difficult to see.
Not interactive.

Ease of Use for Both Students and Faculty

Rating:

Strengths:

Easy to navigate
Comprehensive site--whatever anatomical terms you are looking for will be there
Contains some videos to help introduce students to skeletal materials (Lessons from a Bone Box)
Extensive section linking old terminology to new (Illustrated Encyclopedia of Human Anatomic Variation)

Concerns:

Some atlases are text heavy
Comprehensiveness may inhibit beginning students from making use of site
Requires some searching through the different databases to locate what you want

Other Issues and Comments:: Date of last update prominently displayed on home page. Last update was less than thirty days before review.
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