Modern technologies play an increasingly important role in teaching the biomedical sciences to today’s generation of students. However, are these new technologies really effective in educating tomorrow’s scientists and health care professionals? How can we use these new teaching modalities to help our students learn better and gain a deeper understanding of the expanding volume of scientific knowledge? My current research program is investigating how modern electronic teaching resources are used by students and what impact they have on students’ learning success. In addition, I am developing effective new electronic teaching resources. My most popular learning tool is a series of mobile applications called SecondLook™ (http://secondlook.med.umich.edu). It represents a self-review instrument that helps students to evaluate their proficiency before taking quizzes or examinations. The SecondLook™ resource allows students to use their study time more effectively as it directs their learning efforts towards gaps in their knowledge and skill sets.
Recent publications:
54. M. Hortsch: Taking a SecondLook™ at a Time-Efficient Self-Review Resource. Med. Sci. Educ., Vol. 26(1), 3-4, 2016. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-015-0210-y
55. N.B. Zaidi, C. Hwang, S. Scott, S. Stallard, J. Purkiss, and M. Hortsch: Climbing Bloom’s Taxonomy Pyramid – Lessons from a Graduate Histology Course. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 10 (5), 456-464, 2017 (Featured on the cover.) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1685. PMID: 28231408.
56. A.H. Zureick, J. Burk-Rafel, J. Purkiss, and M. Hortsch: The Interrupted Learner – How Distractions During Live and Video Lectures Influence Learning Outcomes. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 11 (4), 366-376, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1754. PMID: 29178200.
57. L. Lee, H. Goldman, and M. Hortsch: The Virtual Microscopy Database – Sharing Digital Microscope Images for Research and Education. Vol. 11 (5), 510-515, 2018 (Featured on the cover.) Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 11 (5), 510-515, 2018. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1774, PMID: 29444388.
58. M. Hortsch: How to Make Educational Lemonade Out of a Didactic Lemon: The Benefits of Listening to Your Students. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 12 (5), 572-6, 2019. PMID: 30661298. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.1861
59. D.G. Yohannan, A.M. Oommen, K.G. Umesan, V.L. Raveendran, L.S.L. Sreedhar, T.S. Anish, M. Hortsch, R. Krishnapillai: Overcoming Barriers in a Traditional Medical Education System by the Stepwise, Evidence-Based Introduction of a Modern Learning Technology. Med. Sci. Educ. Vol 29 (3), 803-17, 2019. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-019-00759-5
60. M. Hortsch: The Road Taken – Changing One’s Professional Focus at a Large Research University. Dev. Biol. 459 (1): 39-42, 2020. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ydbio.2019.10.016. PMID: 31639336.
61. L. Bringman-Rodenbarger, and M. Hortsch: How students choose E-learning resources: The importance of ease, familiarity, and convenience. FASEB BioAdv. Vol. 2 (5), 286-95, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2019-00094
62. K.L. Carman, A. Minns, S. Garber, M.M. Hammoud, and M. Hortsch: ObGyn Delivered – Social Media Serving Medical Students’ Learning Needs. Med. Sci. Educ. Vol 31 (2), 827-36, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-021-01226-w
63. S.U. Monrad, N.L.B. Zaidi, K.L. Grob, J.B. Kurtz, A.W. Tai, M. Hortsch, L.D. Gruppen, and S.A. Santen: What faculty write versus what students see? Perspectives on multiple-choice questions. Medical Teacher Vol. 43 (5), 575-82, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2021.1879376
64. D.C. Joaquim, M. Hortsch, A.S. Rocha da Silva, P. Barros David, A.C. Rocha de Melo Leite, and V.C. Carneiro Girão-Carmona: Digital Information and Communication Technologies on Histology Learning: What to Expect? - An Integrative Review. Anatomia, Histologia, Embryologia Vol, 51 (2), 180-8, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/ahe.12776
65. D.G. Yohannan, R. Reshmi, and M. Hortsch: The Importance of the Human Element in Teaching the Anatomical Sciences. Surgical and Radiologic Anatomy Vol. 44 (4), 499-500, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00276-022-02913-y
66. E. Finn, F. Ayres, S. Goldberg, and M. Hortsch: Brave New E-World: Medical Students’ Preferences for and Usage of Electronic Learning Resources During Two Different Phases of Their Education. FASEB BioAdv. Vol. 4 (5), 298-308, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1096/fba.2021-00124
67. W. Gribbin, E. Wilson, S. McTaggart, and M. Hortsch: Histology Education in an Integrated, Time-restricted Medical Curriculum: Academic Outcomes and Students’ Study Adaptations. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 15 (3), 671-84, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2127
68. M. Chimmalgi and M. Hortsch: Teaching Histology Using Self-Directed Learning Modules (SDLMs) in a Blended Approach. Med. Sci. Educ. Vol. 32, 1455-1464, 2022. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-022-01669-9
69. M. Hortsch and K. Rompolski: The Freedom to Teach (at the Best). Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol, 16 (2), 189-95, 2023. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2240
70. M. Hortsch: The Michigan Histology Website as an Example of a Free Anatomical Resource Serving Learners and Educators Worldwide. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol, 16 (3), 363-71, 2023, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2239
71. M. Hortsch: Histology as a paradigm for a science-based learning experience: Visits by histology education spirits of past, present, and future. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol, 16 (3), 372-83, 2023 (Featured on the cover) DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2235
72. M. Hortsch: Transforming Histology Students from Passive Lecture Listeners into Active Lecture Learners. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 17 (6), 1174-82, 2024. DOI: http://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2463
73. S. McTaggart and M. Hortsch: Early Practice Makes Histology Masters: The Use of a Formative Assessment Quiz to Prepare Histology Learners for a High-Stakes Final Examination. Anat. Sci. Educ. Vol. 17 (6), 1265-74, 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ase.2472
Electronic Resources:
1. S.C. Kempf, M. Hortsch and D.K. MacCallum: Don MacCallum’s Michigan Histology – Volumes 1 to 4. Published as a series of eBooks at the iTunes Store Sep. 2013: http://www.med.umich.edu/lrc/dmmh/.
2. Self evaluation mobile applications: “Michigan Histology – A SecondLook™ Series”. Release of version 2.0 at the Apple iTunes Store July 13, 2015: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ct-histology/id1008362631?mt=8
and Android version at the Google Play Store August 13, 2015: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.umich.cthistology&hl=en
3.Neuroanatomy self-evaluation mobile application: “Neuroanatomy – A SecondLook™ Series”, co-authored with Kelli Sullivan and Chelsea M. Kaplan. Release of version 3.0 at the Apple iTunes Store January 11, 2017
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/neuroanatomy-secondlook/id1110133663?mt=8 and Android version 3.0.0 at Google Play Store January 9, 2017: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=edu.umich.mobile.slneuroanat&hl=en