Aim: The aim of this work is to analyze the advantages of the introduction and diversification of pedagogical strategies in Anatomy Education, as a comprehensive model of Medical Education.
Introduction: Medical Education has suffered a paradigmatic shift that led to curricular reforms. Due to scientific and technological development, Medical curriculum has been adopting a vertical integration model, in which basic and clinical sciences coexist during medical instruction. This context favours the introduction of new complementary technology-based pedagogical approaches. Thus, even traditional core fields of medical curriculum, like Anatomy, are refocusing their teaching/learning standards.
Methods: This work presents the main conclusions of a bibliographic review that reflected on Medical Education's current pedagogical trend, by analyzing the advantages of the introduction and diversification of pedagogical approaches in Anatomy Education.
Results: Anatomy Education's status quo is characterized by less available teaching time, increasing demands of 2D perspective of human anatomy from radiology and endoscopy imaging and other invasive and non-invasive medical techniques, increasing number of medical students and other logistical restrains. The traditional learning approach, mainly based in the cadaveric dissection, is drifting to complementary newer technologies as 3D models or 2D/3D digital imaging to examine the human anatomy. Also, knowledge transference is taking different channels, as learning management systems, social networks and computer-assisted learning and assessment are assuming relevant roles.
Conclusion: The future holds promising approaches for education models. Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality and Learning Analytics may provide analytic tools towards a real-time and personalized learning process.
A reflection on Anatomy Education, as a comprehensive model, allows us to understand Medical Education's complexity. Therefore, the present Medical Education context favours a blended learning approach, based on multi-modality pedagogical strategies.