Peer Review Portfolio
Judy Provo-Klimek
  1. Focus Question
  2. Microscopic Anatomy and AP 710
    1. About the subject
    2. Connection with other courses/disciplines
    3. Course design
  3. Teaching Microscopic Anatomy
    1. My teaching style
    2. Personal goals for teaching Microscopic Anatomy, AP710
    3. My syllabus
  4. Implementation
    1. Lecture sessions
    2. Problem Based Learning activities
    3. Laboratory discussions
    4. Time spent outside class
  5. Results
    1. Evidence of student learning
    2. Suggestions from students
  6. Implications
    1. Reflection
    2. Planned changes
  7. Appendices
    1. Appendix A: Sample PBL Exercise
    2. Appendix B: Examinations
    3. Appendix C: Samples of student work
    4. Appendix D: Teaching Evaluation data

 

Connection with Other Courses/Disciplines

While taking this course, the students also study gross anatomy and physiology. Microscopic anatomy and gross anatomy are highly related subjects and it is difficult to discuss topics in microanatomy without reference to the gross structure. Likewise, in gross anatomy we often discuss structure and function at the cellular level. A very good example of this is the structure, function and growth of the hoof; it probably would be better educationally to cover the growth and development of the hoof after we study the hoof in gross anatomy, but that is not possible with our current curriculum. Therefore, I compromise and present a little gross anatomy in this class! I am personally of the opinion that these two topics (gross and microscopic structure) should be one course rather than two, although as far as I know they are taught as separate subjects in most schools. This personal bias may be the result of my experience teaching both courses simultaneously, but it would seem quite logical to me to combine the two subjects.

In microscopic anatomy, students learn about the structure and function of the components of the cell (organelles), which should help them to visualize the physiologic processes occurring at the cellular level. In fact, some schools have combined histology with physiology, a move for which I can also see the logic.

Microscopic anatomy is a foundation subjects such as pathology, virology, and immunology. It is true that most practitioners do not produce and study pathology samples in practice. However, nearly all will send samples to an outside laboratory for evaluation, read and interpret the resulting report, and make decisions about the care of the animal based on those findings. In addition, new techniques may make it easier for practitioners to make and read their own pathology slides. Therefore, understanding normal and abnormal histology is integral to the students’ understanding of the body’s healing responses to injury and disease, and highly important to their practice careers.

 
 

Last modified March 13, 2001