Improving Human Anatomy and Physiology Grades with Electronic Learning

1. Improving Human Anatomy and Physiology Grades with Electronic Learning Kayleen A. Young1, Robert W. Boyce, FACSM1, Joe N. Dowd1, Betsy Nixon2 , Heather League2, 1UNC Wilmington, Wilmington, NC. 2 Pearson Education The introduction of e-learning in human anatomy and physiology is becoming an accepted practice for programs related to human movement. PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness of an e-learning system, Mastering A&P by Pearson Incorporated, using final course grade outcomes and student questionnaire perspectives. METHODS:Mastering A&P was implemented into a Human Anatomy and Physiology course in the Spring of 2012, that included the following units: human integumentary, skeletal, muscular, circulatory, and respiratory structures and functions as related to health and movement. Mastering A&P provided electronic homework, tutorials, and end-of-chapter questions for each learning unit. RESULTS: As seen in Figure 1, a significant (P ≤ 0.001) increase was observed in mean test grade percentages from spring 2011 (71.8 ± 7.8) to spring 2012 (77.9 ± 10.6). The average Mastering scores (82.0 ± 14.3) were significantly (P ≤0.01) and positively correlated (r = 0.60) with the average test scores (Figure 2). There was a shift in the grade distribution, favoring those in the spring 2012 class, with the percentage of B’s shifting from 11% to 20%, and A’s from 0%-6%, respectively. An end of course survey (Figure 4) and evaluative course interviews were in support of utilizing Mastering to improve course grades and material mastery. CONCLUSION: It appears that Mastering A&P is an effective learning tool to assist students in learning human anatomy and physiology. Figure 4: End of Course Mastering Survey