The Evolving Role of Technology in Physiology Laboratories

Advances in technology have led to the replacement of animal based laboratories with computer based simulations. This pedagogical approach has the advantages of being less costly in terms of time and money, more accessibility for self study, repeatability of the intervention, ability to alter variables in isolation and needing less expert time for implementation. As medical educators we need to look beyond benefits of this intervention in terms of cost or time required for implementation and look closely at the educational impact of this change. This paper looks at the educational advantages of computer simulations on the basis of the principles of teaching and learning