The Challenges of Teaching Anatomy and Physiology Laboratory Online in the Time of COVID-19

• Main Authors: Claudette P. Davis, Tommy Pinedo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: American Society for Microbiology 2021-03-01
• Series: Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education
• Online Access: https://jmbesubmissions.asm.org/index.php/jmbe/article/view/2605

In early spring 2020, New York’s K–12 schools, colleges, and universities went into lockdown in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and faculty began converting face-to-face classes into distance learning classes. Teachers and college faculty learned to use new technology to continue instruction for the remainder of the academic year. Learning curves were steep for some, as using technology proved to be overwhelming. Students who registered for in-person classes had to learn in an online environment. Pre–health science majors who rely heavily on practical, hands-on courses to gain the necessary skills required for their career participated in virtual anatomy and physiology laboratories. Clearly, face-to-face courses are not always possible; therefore, it is imperative to know the best practices of online teaching and learning.