PHARMAVIRTUA: Educational Software for Teaching and Learning Basic Pharmacology

Autor/inn/en	Fidalgo-Neto, Antonio Augusto; Alberto, Anael Viana Pinto; Bonavita, André Gustavo Calvano; Bezerra, Rômulo José Soares; Berçot, Felipe Faria; Lopes, Renato Matos; Alves, Luiz Anastacio
Titel	PHARMAVIRTUA: Educational Software for Teaching and Learning Basic Pharmacology
Quelle	In: Advances in Physiology Education, 38 (2014) 4, S.368-371 (4 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1043-4046
DOI	10.1152/advan.00033.2014
Schlagwörter	Pharmacology; Computer Software; Computer Uses in Education; Undergraduate Students; Foreign Countries; Pretests Posttests; Student Attitudes; Rating Scales; Instructional Effectiveness; Usability; Statistical Analysis; Qualitative Research; Brazil + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Arzneikunde; Computernutzung; Ausland; Schülerverhalten; Rating-Skala; Unterrichtserfolg; Statistische Analyse; Qualitative Forschung; Brasilien
Abstract	Information and communication technologies have become important tools for teaching scientific subjects such as anatomy and histology as well as other, nondescriptive subjects like physiology and pharmacology. Software has been used to facilitate the learning of specific concepts at the cellular and molecular levels in the biological and health sciences. Although educational software, virtual environments, and e-learning are not new, their scope has been expanding to reach the more complex areas of science and higher levels of education. As a case in point, the British Pharmacological Society offers access to >250 different software packages, not to mention what can be found by searching other databases such as Google, Google Scholar, or ERIC. With so many different programs available, there is a clear need for more rigorous research to provide a scientific and pedagogical foundation for the general content and usability of this software, focusing on an empirical rather than a descriptive software evaluation. Despite the wealth of pharmacology software found on the web, few of these programs are evaluated pedagogically. Developing educational software is quite different from developing noneducational software, such as business applications. Educational software should be designed to facilitate learning for its users, who may not already possess the knowledge being studied. In this context, the authors developed "PHARMAVIRTUA," a Creative Commons-licensed software package, to help pharmacology teachers by promoting an active and motivated learning environment for students. The present study evaluated the usefulness of the "PHARMAVIRTUA" educational software package for teaching and learning basic pharmacology. The authors analyzed subjective (student perception) and objective (student exam results) parameters as well as navigability, usability, friendliness, and other characteristics of the software. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	American Physiological Society. 9650 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20814-3991. Tel: 301-634-7164; Fax: 301-634-7241; e-mail: webmaster@the-aps.org; Web site: http://advan.physiology.org/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10