123 - Implementation and Perceptions of a “digital Hand Story” in an Occupational Therapy Gross Anatomy Course

Poster Board Number: 123
There are separate poster presentation times for odd and even posters.
Odd poster #s – first hour
Even poster #s – second hour

Co-authors:

Carrie Elzie, PhD, MA - Professor, Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center

Abstract Body : Digital stories are multimedia presentations that combine a variety of digital elements within a narrative structure. Creating digital stories provides students with an opportunity to be creative, develop their individual voice, and build their empathy and communication skills. To further engage students in and promote a deep appreciation for the anatomy of the hands and their profound impact on one’s life, a Digital Hand Story activity was created and implemented in an Occupational Therapy Gross Anatomy course at UT Health San Antonio. 52 occupational therapy students were assigned to create two “Digital Hand Stories” as a mechanism to emphasize the totality and significance of the hands beyond the collection of anatomical structures: one as a reflection capturing the role of their hands in their personal life and another of a community members’ hands. The Digital Hand Story exercise was flexible; students could utilize any technology or software to create a short 2–3-minute clip. Students were provided a grading rubric and assessed on the script, audio, pacing of the narrative, quality of images, motions, transitions, and the overall effect. Upon completion of the course, 37 out of 52 students completed a voluntary survey on their perceptions of the assignment. Results from the course evaluation show that 78.4% of occupational therapy students “Strongly Agreed” or “Agreed” that the Digital Hand Story was a valuable course activity. 89.2%, 86.5%, and 83.4% of students “Strongly Agreed” or “Agreed” that the Digital Hand Story gave them a greater appreciation for the role of hands in their Personal, Professional, and Future Patient lives’, respectively. Qualitative student feedback stated that students enjoyed being creative and getting to express themselves. They also learned to see each patient as a person and recognize their uniqueness. Lastly, they felt the greatest challenges were being vulnerable and portraying others’ stories in a respectful manner. Student-provided feedback of the activity was generally very positive. Student submissions of the Digital Hand Story demonstrated thoughtful and heartfelt literal and metaphorical pieces that symbolize the vast responsibilities and rewards that our hands provide to ourselves and others.