Student-Perceived Value on the Use of Clay Modelling in Undergraduate Clinical Anatomy

Abstract

Clay modelling is increasingly used as an anatomy teaching method to supplement practical dissection sessions. The use of clay modelling is an active, tactile learning tool utilized to improve student engagement and enhance students’ understanding of anatomical relationships in human anatomy. Furthermore, not only does clay modelling engage more senses in the learning process, but it was also found that there are educational advantages to the group interactions that are associated with the construction process to further collaborative learning. The aim of the study was to explore the effect of building anatomical clay models on students’ awareness and understanding of their own thought processes as well as to explore whether clay modelling promoted collaborative learning. This cross-sectional study entailed the use of clay modelling and reflective practice to promote metacognition in third-year BSc students (n = 10), at the University of Stellenbosch’s (SU) Division of Clinical Anatomy. The third-year BSc students were asked to build anatomical clay models (in groups), complete a reflective assignment and an evaluation form as part of their assessment of the Applied Anatomy module. The reflective assignment was based on Gibb’s reflective cycle. The inclusion of such an assignment would trigger students to reflect upon their learning experiences and thus promote their metacognition. Ten (10) BSc students volunteered to take part in the study. A mixed method approach was followed; the reflective assignments were qualitatively analyzed, while the evaluation forms were quantitatively (statistically) analyzed. Data obtained from the online evaluation forms indicated agreeable responses confirming that the clay modelling was a valuable learning tool. However, the participants preferred cadaveric dissection instead of clay modelling to learn anatomy. Furthermore, three themes became prominent from the thematic analysis of the reflective assignments, namely, (1) Advantages of clay modelling, (2) Challenges of clay modelling, and (3) Suggestions for future practice. The research suggests that the inclusion of hands-on clay modelling in the undergraduate clinical anatomy is a valuable learning tool. The participants perceived that it enhanced their anatomical knowledge and improved collaborative learning.