To 'paint' with Human Tissues and Modern Technology: This is Art in Histology Gamification

Abstract

Keeping students motivated in conditions of social distancing is a real challenge for teachers. The use of alternative methods that are not perceived as a conventional way of learning increases student's curiosity. The game is a method of relaxation at any age, nowadays often combined with modern technology. Gamification is an alternative learning method increasingly applied in higher medical education for developing medical students' practical skills. The online distance learning has challenged us to apply gamification in histology. We launched a competition for 2nd year medical students having as first award Romanian edition of the worldwide known histology book. In May 2020, in the middle of COVID 19 pandemic, we asked students to review our Case-Center histological slides from their own perspective, to select those tissues which resemble to anything from real life and to do art using modern technology. A Facebook page was created for posting students works. Students created high quality works using tissue pieces, their unlimited imagination and modern technology. We received 181 pictures, one animation and 3 videos with a brief message attached. A stunning compilation of Art in Histology competition works created a book entitled 181 HISTOries from 2nd year medical students during COVID19 pandemic.