Assessment of the Perception and Impact of Anatomy Education via Virtual Learning Environment: A Study Using Edo State University Uzairue

Abstract

Advancement in technology has created virtual resources such as; anatomy applications and virtual dissection tables, which has positively transformed Anatomy education. The objective of this research is to ascertain the students’ perception of learning anatomy via virtual learning environment (VLE), determine respondent’s preferred virtual resource for learning anatomy and assess the outcome of employing VLE in Anatomy education. This study population comprises of undergraduates enrolled into the departments of Anatomy, Nursing and Medical laboratory Science, Edo State University, Uzairue, Nigeria. Questionnaire was designed, tested for reliability and distributed after securing respondents informed consent. Results were analyzed using SPSS version 21 for windows and reported as percentage in tables and charts. Closed-ended questions were analyzed using Pearson Chi-Square test. From the results 214 students (85.3%) completed the questionnaire. Majority were female (77.6%). 63.1% of respondents were between 19 – 22 years. 84 respondents (39.3%) uses android phone for virtual study, although, another 33 respondents (15.4%) uses a combination of android and laptop. Anatomy applications were used by 50.5% of students, and most of them (26.2%) preferred the TeachMe Anatomy application. Students’ perceived the use of VLE as advantageous to their learning anatomy (χ2 (28, N=214) = 291.678, p <0.01). Furthermore, student’s involvement in learning anatomy through virtual technology had a positive impact on their learning attitude, assimilation and retention (χ2 (28, N=214) = 100.495, p <0.01). Conclusively students of Edo State University acknowledge learning of anatomy through VLE, as it makes the learning of anatomy accessible, interesting, and easy to comprehend as well as assimilate, although with challenge of high data consumption