The Medical and Health Professions Education Program proudly announces the date for Benjamin Crockett's dissertation defense. The study entitled Faculty Perspectives on Reflectance Transformation Imaging in Human Osteology Education: A Mixed-Methods Study explored faculty perspectives on the application of RTI with osteological specimens. The dissertation defense is an open event.
Date: November 13, 2024
Time: 12:00 - 1:30 pm EST
Location: https://odu.zoom.us/j/95433970944Links to an external site.
Full abstract: Osteology is a uniquely difficult and integral portion of human anatomy curricula across the world. Students have traditionally studied skeletal elements and landmarks from cadaveric remains. This educational practice is becoming more challenging due to the limited availability of skeletons and contemporary ethical concerns. Photography and computer models are not entirely effective at capturing the shape and texture of bone, therefore options for visualizing skeletal tissue remain limited. Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI), a technique that fuses multiple digital images under varied lighting conditions, is a promising technology for meeting these specific challenges. The purpose of this study was to explore faculty perspectives on the application of RTI with osteological specimens. The study employed a User Experience Questionnaire to quantify faculty User Experience and semi-structured interviews to identify their perceptions of a newly-created RTI osteology resource. The quantitative results showed that RTI performed well on the User Experience dimensions of attractiveness, perspicuity, efficiency, and novelty. The qualitative analysis supported these findings, revealing faculty enthusiasm for RTI’s potential to improve the teaching of complex osteological structure. RTI holds potential for advancing osteology education and its adoption will require resolving issues related to accessibility, cost, and its suitability for different educational domains and levels.
Keywords: human anatomy, osteology, reflectance transformation imaging, faculty perspective, photography