Computer-assisted self-assessment (CASA) in histology

A computer-assisted self-assessment system (CASA) has been developed. It allows students to evaluate their own knowledge and ability in identifying histological structures. It consists of an image digitizing-editing system, an image database shared through a local area network, and teacher's- and student's-environments. The authoring system allows the teacher to define text frames, multiple-choice and open-ended questions. The student's environment includes on-line help and recording of the student's identification, answers, scores and messages. The educational impact of the CASA system was tested in 1987 on a single prototype workstation, with a limited number of students. Results showed that the marks in histology at the final examination were significantly increased for the weak students, but not for the good students. Since September 1988, several workstations have been available in the histology classroom and in a microcomputer room located in the Faculty library. In an anonymous questionnaire, nearly 90% of the students answered that they were in favour of this system.

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