Use of Digital Microscopy as an Educational Resource for Diagnostic Haematology

Digital microscopy is increasingly being adopted as an educational tool to teach diagnostic pathology. Standard light microscopy is still the gold-standard for teaching and diagnosis of human tissue and blood abnormalities. However, there are instances, such as rare disorders, where digital images are invaluable for training and assessment. This project explores the learning benefits of adding of digital microscopy to supplement physical slides, trialing the use of USB drives for each student and an online digital slide repository, Slice.A survey of 23 students who used both online and USB digital images in addition to standard microscopy in 2024 was conducted at the conclusion of 4th year Advanced Haematology.Students preferred a mix of all resources, including Slice online digital slides, USB images and physical microscopy for optimal learning outcomes. The survey showed that there was a moderately high degree of equivalence (5.76/7) between digital and physical microscopy. This supports the use of digital images to supplement, but not replace, physical glass slides and microscopes.There are many pedagogical benefits to incorporating digital resources into teaching strategies. Studies show that blending of digital microscopy into pathology and haematology university courses improves student learning outcomes and the overall student experience, especially when taught alongside conventional light microscopy [1-4]. Formal and informal feedback from students undertaking advanced haematology at JCU in 2024 indicated that there were clear preferences for digital resources, and few disadvantages. In 2025, all digital and physical resources will be available to students, and a follow-up survey will be conducted.

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Celebrating Transformative Education Conference

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