An Innovative Histology Practical Through E-learning to Overcome Resource Limitations

Abstract

Histological practicals in medical education generally encounter challenges due to limited costs and facilities, resulting in the lack of delivery during hands-on learning. To address this gap, we utilize an e-learning approach using digitized glass slides. We digitized the images from glass slides in our teaching collections with a basic camera and transformed them into a PowerPoint presentation with animation. The e-learning covers important core pathology topics like inflammatory polyps, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, emphysema, lobar pneumonia, and pulmonary edema, which are under the module pathology of the respiratory tract. This method allows students to obtain accessible, standardized, and interactive materials, and also encourages the students to review microscopic features (e.g., keratin pearls, syncytial patterns, alveolar disruptions) at their own pace. By implementing e-learning, we not only solve resource challenges but also offer a reliable self-assessment method for students to evaluate their understanding. This approach shows how low-cost digital solutions can improve learning engagement and effectiveness in histopathology education.