"Virtual" experiment for understanding the electrocardiogram and the mean electrical axis.

Abstract

Educators have placed an emphasis on the development of laboratory materials that supplement the traditional lecture format. The laboratory materials should encourage active learning, small group discussion, and problem-solving skills. To this end, we developed a virtual experiment designed to introduce students to the theory and application of the electrocardiogram (ECG) and the mean electrical axis (MEA). After reviewing background material, the students will analyze ECG recordings from two individuals who underwent a series of experimental procedures. The students are challenged to reduce and analyze the data, calculate and plot the MEA, and answer questions related to the theory and application of the ECG. In conducting the virtual experiment, students are introduced to inquiry-based learning through experimentation.

Evaluation of a virtual neurophysiology laboratory as a new pedagogical tool for medical undergraduate students in China

“…1). 1 The teaching objectives of the virtual laboratory were to demonstrate 1) the correct operational methods and essential steps for the separation of the giant nerve fibers from frogs, 2) the correct setup of instruments used in the experiment, and 3) typical original data of neuronal biphasic APs, including normal conduction velocity and refractory period values. In the virtual laboratory program, animals, experimental facilities, and procedures are user controlled by clicking the setting option and dragging the mouse to select the necessary items.…”

“…In practice, some teachers in our university prefer to use the virtual laboratory alone rather than in combination with the living tissue laboratory, whereas others doubt the validity of the virtual laboratory as a useful pedagogical tool. Even though numerous useful virtual physiology laboratory programs have been developed and evaluated by physiology educators (1,2,8,9,12,17,18), whether a virtual neurophysiology laboratory designed for the measurement of extracellular AP generation and conduction can enhance or completely replace the educational benefits of live tissue laboratories has not been reported.…”

A Literature Review on Applied Physics in Medicine in the Context of Teaching

“…The following articles proposed teaching didactics and implemented such strategies, though they did not evaluate them. Anderson and Dicarlo (2000) developed a virtual experiment to teach about Electrocardiogram (ECG) and Middle Electrical Axis (MEA) seeking to replace activities with human beings for a better understanding of heart functioning since such activities provoked much ethical debate, besides being more expensive than software. The authors conformed to the following methodology: 1) Formal study of the topic through reading; 2) Teaching how the software worked; 3) Reduction and analysis of data; 4) MEA calculus and plotting; 5) Students had to answer questions related to ECG theory and practice.…”

The Effects of the Walking Exercise on ST/HR Slope and QRS Vector in the Middle-Aged Men

“…심장 벡터(cardiac vector)에 있어서 전면(frontal plane)은 좌, 우축과 상하축의 전기현상을 동시에 기록하며, 평면 (horizontal plane)은 좌우 축과 상하 축 사이에 반영된 것을 동시에 기록하는 것이다 [10,29], 심혈관계 질환 위험 요소를 보유한 대상자들의 심전도는 연령, 성별, 혈압 그리고 BMI와 관련되고, 복합적인 CVD 위험 요소의 변인들이 증가할수록 QRS 벡터는 우측으로 이동하여 심장기능 저하와 민감도를 떨어뜨린다고 하였다 [2,24].…”