Use of H5P content types to build interactive e-learning resources in anatomical sciences

Background and purpose

Ongoing COVID19 pandemic has forced medical universities across the globe to adopt online teaching-learning for most of undergraduate courses.1 However, the online learning process falls short of much needed interactivity, hands on training especially during addressing skill based competencies.2 In addition, most of the pedagogical challenges are associated with digital competence of the faculty engaged in design and execution of the remote teachinglearning process. Asynchronous online learning mostly utilizes pre-recorded video lectures with or without textual content decorated with diagrams.4,5 Though use of such visual content (videos, diagrams and text) within the online learning environment has shown to aid the learning process, there are inherent drawbacks.6 Ineffective use of media results in lack of interest, learner engagement and detrimental to student motivation. This may contribute to less optimal outcomes of e-learning environment.7,8 

 In order to increase learner engagement, we explored ways to introduce interactivity within the online content delivery environment. As most universities offer the online content through a learner management system (LMS), we explored ways to design and use the interactive online resources for anatomical sciences within LMS environment. 

Building interactive e-learning resources in anatomy using H5P 

H5P is an HTML5 Package enabling content developers to create interactive videos, quizzes and presentations. Its use within the LMS environment especially MOODLE is highly adopted across many platforms. It has more than 50 content types allowing content creation for various needs.9 H5P offers unique solutions to build interactive content for teaching-learning anatomical sciences. In the following sections, we provide specific examples of H5P content types integration for development of anatomy learning content. As these interactive content can be better appreciated in a browser, the examples are provided as external links. 

Drag and drop 

Dragging labels over specific areas of the anatomical image provides on-screen activity. Such interactive learning aids long-term retention of the concepts.  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/roof-of-cubital-fossa/  

Agamotto 

This image blenders provides platform for sequential presentation of a complex image. In anatomical sciences teaching-learning, this can be utilized for building a complex image in a sequence. The specific example provided here are the walls and contents of the middle ear. The complex anatomy of middle ear can be sequentially built using Agamotto. The slider at the bottom and labels for each image and provides much needed description and direction for the image building. This can also be used for showing differential labelling among two or more diagrams. 

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/middle-ear-anatomy/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/lateral-pelvic-wall/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/testis-and-epididymis/  

Image hotspots 

Illustrations in anatomical sciences usually have many structures and a novice learner can easily lose key element in the midst of plenty. Image hotspot functionality of H5P can be effective in highlighting the key structure and providing more information about a component over the diagram.

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/pharynx-wall/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/femoral-triangle/   

Find the hotspots (multiple)

Searching a predefined area of the diagram (hotspot) correctly by learners leads to higher retention of concepts. Key elements of a complex diagram or dissected specimen or a microscropic image marked as hotspot can lead to effective transfer of intended outcome. 

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/thin-skin/  

Image juxtaposition 

Juxta positioning gross and histology images provides explicit relation of macroscopic and microscopic relation of a structure. In the same way radiological anatomy and schematic diagram of the representative structures can also be juxtaposed. Sections of the brain stem juxtaposed with the schematic diagrams spatially orients the learners. 

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/prostate-gland-gross-and-histology/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/optic-chiasma/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/section-of-brain-stem-at-inferior-olivary-nucleus/  

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/head-and-neck-sagittal-section/  

Image sequencing

Sequentially arranging the sections of the brainstem images provides 3D orientation. Similarly, the sequencing can be a good tool to orderly learn the developmental process of interatrial septal development, interventricular septal development, rotation of gut, development of kidney and descent of kidneys.  https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/sections-of-medulla/   

Interactive video 

Visual media is an important tool in e-learning. Video lectures, infomercial nuggets, live videos, explainer videos are many video formats that are routinely used during online teaching-learning methods. Using the interactive video H5P content type, interactivity can be built over these video types. Interactivity that can be used for anatomical sciences learning can be multiple choice questions, single best responses, true or false, fill in the blanks and identifying image hot spots. Using these tools, narrative videos can be made more engaging and interactive. This H5P content type also offers disabling scrolling forwards (navigation) and a ten second rewind.  Example of an interactive video showing structures over hyoglossus is given here.   https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/structures-over-hyoglossus/  

Branching Scenario

Clinical scenarios with branching pattern provide an opportunity to explore the impact of decision making. It also encourages critical thinking and motivates learners for deep learning. An example using Babinski reflex is depicted here. 

https://www.healiosmed.com/vvp/babinski-reflex-clinical-scenario/  

References 

1.      Sandars J, Patel R. The challenge of online learning for medical education during the COVID19 pandemic. Int J Med Educ. 2020 Aug 21;11:169–70. 

2.      Gaur U, Majumder MAA, Sa B, Sarkar S, Williams A, Singh K. Challenges and Opportunities of Preclinical Medical Education: COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond. SN Compr Clin Med. 2020 Nov 1;2(11):1992–7. 

3.      Ferri F, Grifoni P, Guzzo T. Online Learning and Emergency Remote Teaching: Opportunities and Challenges in Emergency Situations. Societies. 2020 Dec;10(4):86. 

4.      Kim JW, Myung SJ, Yoon HB, Moon SH, Ryu H, Yim J-J. How medical education survives and evolves during COVID-19: Our experience and future direction. PLOS ONE. 2020 Dec 18;15(12):e0243958. 

5.      Alsoufi A, Alsuyihili A, Msherghi A, Elhadi A, Atiyah H, Ashini A, et al. Impact of the COVID19 pandemic on medical education: Medical students’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding electronic learning. PLOS ONE. 2020 Nov 25;15(11):e0242905. 

6.      Lange C, Costley J. Improving online video lectures: learning challenges created by media.

International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education. 2020 May 5;17(1):16. 

7.      Mayer RE. Multimedia Instruction. In: Spector JM, Merrill MD, Elen J, Bishop MJ, editors. Handbook of Research on Educational Communications and Technology [Internet]. New York, NY: Springer; 2014 [cited 2021 Aug 27]. p. 385–99. Available from:

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3185-5_31

8.      Costley J, Lange CH. The Effects of Lecture Diversity on Germane Load. The International Review of Research in Open and Distributed Learning [Internet]. 2017 Apr 4 [cited 2021 Aug

27];18(2). Available from: http://www.irrodl.org/index.php/irrodl/article/view/2860

9.      Examples & downloads [Internet]. h5p.org. [cited 2021 Aug 27]. Available from:

https://h5p.org/content-types-and-applications

10.   Solutions L. What is H5P? (And Why Your eLearning Needs It!) [Internet]. Lambda Solutions. [cited 2021 Aug 30]. Available from: https://www.lambdasolutions.net/blog/what-is-h5pand-why-your-elearning-needs-it

 

Dr. Viveka S

Professor, Department of Anatomy, Azeezia Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Kollam, Kerala

Phone: 9539604300, 9916600814 

Mail: vivekabharathi@gmail.com 


Last modified: Tuesday, 9 August 2022, 7:52 PM