Using HistoGuide Mobile Application (Virtual Microscopy): A Qualitative Pilot Study on Usability and Sixth Form Students’ Learning Experience

Authors

  • Teoh Chern Zhong Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA
  • Natasha Kaur Mindar Singh Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA
  • Siti Nor Badariah Marzuki Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA
  • Mohd Uzi Dollah Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA
  • Muhamad Ikhwan Mat Saad Faculty of Science and Mathematics, Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris, MALAYSIA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/ejsmt.vol9.2.15.2022

Keywords:

HistoGuide application, virtual microscopy and slides, usability, usability testing, learning experience

Abstract

HistoGuide application is a smartphone application system used by sixth form students as virtual microscopy and slides to solve the problems of incorrect drawing and labelling, inability to apply magnification and scale, and inability to observe details in microscopic practical works. However, as a newly developed application, there are still many who do not understand the usability of the HistoGuide application. In building a good application, one important part is good usability. Usability testing, especially in the HistoGuide application, can show users' ease and efficiency in using the system. The authors try to use qualitative usability testing through observation, document analysis and interviews with four participants as a pilot study before a real study. The analysis revealed the preference of the students for utilizing virtual microscopy as an educational tool in terms of usability, in the construct of usefulness, ease of use, ease of learning, satisfaction, effectiveness and efficiency. These results indicate that the HistoGuide application is good. The results of usability measurement are expected to help the development and improvement of the HistoGuide application in the future, besides gauging the students’ learning experience. The study also revealed that students accepted virtual microscopic learning tool that was easy to use, available at a distance, encouraged collaboration and mastery, changed learning attitudes and emulated the same concepts of optical microscopy. Although there are some concerns and challenges, the overall learning experiences are highly positive towards complementing optical microscopy with virtual microscopy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

K. K. C. Cheung and M. Winterbottom, “Exploring students’ visualisation competence with photomicrographs of villi,” Int. J. Sci. Educ., vol. 43, no. 14, pp. 2290–2315, 2021, doi: 10.1080/09500693.2021.1959958.

W. Hoese and M. Casem, “Drawing out misconceptions: Assessing student mental models in biology.” California State University, Fullerton, pp. 1–6, 2007.

S. Köse, “Diagnosing student misconceptions: Using drawings as a research method,” World Appl. Sci. J., vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 283–293, 2008, Accessed: Apr. 05, 2022. [Online]. Available: http://idosi.org/wasj/wasj3(2)/20.pdf.

K. Quillin and S. Thomas, “Drawing-to-learn: A framework for using drawings to promote model-based reasoning in biology,” CBE Life Sci. Educ., vol. 14, no. 1, pp. 1–16, 2015, doi: 10.1187/cbe.14-08-0128.

M. García, N. Victory, A. Navarro-Sempere, and Y. Segovia, “Students’ views on difficulties in learning histology,” Anat. Sci. Educ., vol. 12, no. 5, pp. 541–549, 2019, doi: 10.1002/ase.1838.

A. Alegre-Martínez, M. I. Martínez-Martínez, J. L. Alfonso Sánchez, M. M. Morales Suárez-Varela, and A. Llopis González, “Results of the implementation of a virtual microscope in a course of histology,” in 2nd International Conference on Higher Education Advances, HEAd’16, 2016, pp. 169–176, doi: 10.4995/head16.2016.2626.

S. K. Bajt, “Web 2.0 technologies: Applications for community colleges,” New Dir. Community Coll., vol. 154, pp. 53–62, 2011, doi: 10.1002/cc.

B. Shatto and K. Erwin, “Moving on from Millennials: Preparing for Generation Z,” J. Contin. Educ. Nurs., vol. 47, no. 6, pp. 253–254, 2016, doi: 10.3928/00220124-20160518-05.

A. M. Lund, “Measuring usability with the USE questionnaire,” Usability interface, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 3–6, 2001.

M. Alshamari and P. Mayhew, “Task design: Its impact on usability testing,” Proc. - 3rd Int. Conf. Internet Web Appl. Serv. ICIW 2008, pp. 583–589, 2008, doi: 10.1109/ICIW.2008.20.

S. O. Banjoka, “Poor performance in school certificate biology: Causes and solutions,” OSCE J. Pure Sci., vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 24–33, 1994.

J. Seifried and M. A. Figueroa, “Identification of misconceptions related to size and scale through a nanotechnology-based K-12 activity,” in ASEE Annual Conference and Exposition, Conference Proceedings, 2016, vol. 2016-June, doi: 10.18260/p.25513.

C. A. Blake, H. A. Lavoie, and C. F. Millette, “Teaching medical histology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine: Transition to virtual slides and virtual microscopes,” Anat. Rec. - Part B New Anat., vol. 275, no. 1, pp. 196–206, 2003, doi: 10.1002/ar.b.10037.

P. M. Heidger, F. Dee, D. Consoer, T. Leaven, J. Duncan, and C. Kreiter, “Integrated approach to teaching and testing in histology with real and virtual imaging,” Anat. Rec., vol. 269, no. 2, pp. 107–112, 2002, doi: 10.1002/ar.10078.

E. Pospíšilová, D. Černochová, R. Lichnovská, B. Erdösová, and D. Krajčí, “Application and evaluation of teaching practical histology with the use of virtual microscopy,” Diagn. Pathol., vol. 8, no. S1, 2013, doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-8-s1-s7.

E. Romero, F. Gómez, and M. Iregui, “Virtual microscopy in medical images : A survey,” Mod. Res. Educ. Top. Microsc., no. 571, pp. 996–1006, 2007.

M. W. Braun and K. D. Kearns, “Improved learning efficiency and increased student collaboration through use of virtual microscopy in the teaching of human pathology,” Anat. Sci. Educ., vol. 1, no. 6, pp. 240–246, 2008, doi: 10.1002/ase.53.

J. Michael, “How we learn: Where’s the evidence that active learning works?,” Adv Physiol Educ, vol. 30, pp. 159–167, 2006, doi: 10.1152/advan.00053.

T. Harris, T. Leaven, P. Heidger, C. Kreiter, J. Duncan, and F. Dick, “Comparison of a virtual microscope laboratory to a regular microscope laboratory for teaching histology,” Anat. Rec., vol. 265, no. 1, pp. 10–14, 2001, doi: 10.1002/ar.1036.

R. L. Pratt, “Are we throwing histology out with the microscope? A look at histology from the physician’s perspective,” Anat. Sci. Educ., vol. 2, no. 5, pp. 205–209, 2009, doi: 10.1002/ase.100.

D. Jonas-Dwyer, F. Sudweeks, P. K. Nicholls, and T. Mcgill, “Enhancing the learning experience? A comparison of optical and virtual microscope laboratories in histology and pathology,” in 8th International Conference on Computer Based Learning in Science, 2007, vol. 1, pp. 511–522.

A. H. Hande, V. K. Lohe, M. S. Chaudhary, M. N. Gawande, S. K. Patil, and P. R. Zade, “Impact of virtual microscopy with conventional microscopy on student learning in dental histology,” Dent. Res. J. (Isfahan)., vol. 14, no. 2, pp. 111–116, 2017, doi: 10.4103/1735-3327.205788.

J. R. Cotter, “Laboratory instruction in histology at the University at Buffalo: Recent replacement of microscope exercises with computer applications,” Anat. Rec., vol. 265, no. 5, pp. 212–221, 2001, doi: 10.1002/ar.10010.

M. H. Kim et al., “Virtual microscopy as a practical alternative to conventional microscopy in pathology education,” Basic Appl. Pathol., vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 46–48, 2008, doi: 10.1111/j.1755-9294.2008.00006.x.

M. Merk, R. Knuechel, and A. Perez-Bouza, “Web-based virtual microscopy at the RWTH Aachen University: Didactic concept, methods and analysis of acceptance by the students,” Ann. Anat., vol. 192, pp. 383–387, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2010.01.008.

F. P. Paulsen, M. Eichhorn, and L. Bräuer, “Virtual microscopy - The future of teaching histology in the medical curriculum?,” Ann. Anat., vol. 192, no. 6, pp. 378–382, 2010, doi: 10.1016/j.aanat.2010.09.008.

F. J. Weaker and D. C. Herbert, “Transition of a dental histology course from light to virtual microscopy,” J. Dent. Educ., vol. 73, no. 10, pp. 1213–1221, 2009, doi: 10.1002/j.0022-0337.2009.73.10.tb04813.x.

J. W. Creswell and J. D. Creswell, Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches, 5th ed. Los Angeles: SAGE Publications, 2012.

Y. S. Lincoln and E. G. Guba, Naturalistic inquiry. Beverly Hills, California: Sage Publications, 1985.

J. R. Fraenkel, N. E. Wallen, and H. H. Hyun, How to design and evaluate research in education. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2012.

E. McLellan, K. M. MaCqueen, and J. L. Neidig, “Beyond the qualitative interview: Data preparation and transcription,” Field methods, vol. 15, no. 1, pp. 63–84, 2003, doi: 10.1177/1525822X02239573.

R. Bogdan and S. K. Biklen, Qualitative research for education: An introduction to theories and methods. Pearson A & B, 2007.

Y. P. Chua, Mastering research statistics, 2nd ed. Kuala Lumpur: McGraw-Hill Education (Malaysia), 2020.

W. E. Khalbuss, L. Pantanowitz, and A. V. Parwani, “Digital imaging in cytopathology,” Patholog. Res. Int., vol. 2011, pp. 1–10, 2011, doi: 10.4061/2011/264683.

S. Raja, “Virtual microscopy as a teaching tool adjuvant to traditional microscopy.,” Med. Educ., vol. 44, no. 11, p. 1126, 2010, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2923.2010.03841.x.

Y. Y. Din and D. Cheung, “Teachers’ concerns on school-based assessment of practical work,” J. Biol. Educ., vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 156–162, 2005, doi: 10.1080/00219266.2005.9655989.

Hazrulrizawati Abd Hamid, “Perbandingan tahap penguasaan kemahiran proses sains dan cara penglibatan pelajar dalam kaedah amali tradisional dengan kaedah makmal mikro komputer,” Universiti Teknology Malaysia, 2007.

L. Pantanowitz and A. V. Parwani, Digital Pathology. ASCP Press, 2017.

B. L. Solberg, “Student perceptions of digital versus traditional slide use in undergraduate education,” Clin. Lab. Sci. J. Am. Soc. Med. Technol., vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 419–425, 2012.

R. K. Kumar, G. M. Velan, S. O. Korell, M. Kandara, F. R. Dee, and D. Wakefield, “Virtual microscopy for learning and assessment in pathology,” J. Pathol., vol. 204, no. 5, pp. 613–618, 2004, doi: 10.1002/path.1658.

C. S. Farah and T. Maybury, “Implementing digital technology to enhance student learning of pathology,” Eur. J. Dent. Educ., vol. 13, no. 3, pp. 172–178, 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0579.2009.00570.x.

A. D. Donnelly, M. S. Mukherjee, E. R. Lyden, and S. J. Radio, “Virtual microscopy in cytotechnology education: Application of knowledge from virtual to glass,” Cytojournal, vol. 9, no. 1, 2012, doi: 10.4103/1742-6413.95827.

M. S. Brueggeman, C. Swinehart, M. J. Yue, J. M. Conway-Klaassen, and S. M. Wiesner, “Implementing virtual microscopy improves outcomes in a hematology morphology course,” Clin. Lab. Sci. J. Am. Soc. Med. Technol., vol. 25, no. 3, pp. 149–155, 2012, doi: 10.29074/ascls.25.3.149.

A. Saco, J. A. Bombi, A. Garcia, J. Ramírez, and J. Ordi, “Current status of whole-slide imaging in education,” Pathobiology, vol. 83, no. 2–3, pp. 79–88, Apr. 2016, doi: 10.1159/000442391.

L. Helle, M. Nivala, P. Kronqvist, A. Gegenfurtner, P. Björk, and R. Säljö, “Traditional microscopy instruction versus process-oriented virtual microscopy instruction: A naturalistic experiment with control group,” Diagn. Pathol., vol. 6, no. 8, pp. 1–9, Mar. 2011, doi: 10.1186/1746-1596-6-S1-S8.

O. Ordi et al., “Virtual microscopy in the undergraduate teaching of pathology,” J. Pathol. Inform., vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 1–6, Jan. 2015, doi: 10.4103/2153-3539.150246.

B. B. Krippendorf and J. Lough, “Complete and rapid switch from light microscopy to virtual microscopy for teaching medical histology,” Anat. Rec. - Part B New Anat., vol. 285, no. 1, pp. 19–25, Jul. 2005, doi: 10.1002/ar.b.20066.

S. Nauhria and L. Hangfu, “Virtual microscopy enhances the reliability and validity in histopathology curriculum: Practical guidelines,” MedEdPublish, vol. 8, p. 28, 2019, doi: 10.15694/mep.2019.000028.2.

J. A. Neel, C. B. Grindem, and D. G. Bristol, “Introduction and evaluation of virtual microscopy in teaching veterinary cytopathology,” J. Vet. Med. Educ., vol. 34, no. 4, pp. 437–444, 2007, doi: 10.3138/jvme.34.4.437.

C. J. Xu, “Is virtual microscopy really better for histology teaching?,” Anat. Sci. Educ., vol. 6, no. 2, p. 138, 2013, doi: 10.1002/ase.1337.

Zeanaaima Mohd Yusof, “Guru ‘tipu’ tahap penguasaan murid, petanda bencana sistem pendidikan, KPM diberitahu,” Free Malaysia Today, Jun. 29, 2022. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/bahasa/tempatan/2022/06/29/guru-tipu-tahap-penguasaan-murid-petanda-bencana-sistem-pendidikan-kpm-diberitahu/ (accessed Jul. 02, 2022).

Downloads

Published

2022-11-03

How to Cite

Zhong, T. C., Mindar Singh, N. K., Marzuki, S. N. B., Dollah, M. U., & Mat Saad, M. I. (2022). Using HistoGuide Mobile Application (Virtual Microscopy): A Qualitative Pilot Study on Usability and Sixth Form Students’ Learning Experience. EDUCATUM Journal of Science, Mathematics and Technology, 9(2), 136–154. https://doi.org/10.37134/ejsmt.vol9.2.15.2022