Customer Experience: Darren Hoffmann, Ph.D.

Since 2008, Darren Hoffmann, a Ph. D., Lecturer and Vice Chair of Educational Programs with the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology at the University of Iowa, has been using Cyber Anatomy 3D to teach human anatomy to his classroom.

Hoffmann’s Review

“Cyber Anatomy has become an essential component of our Anatomy programs at the University of Iowa. I use Cyber Anatomy regularly in lectures to illustrate relationships that are particularly difficult for students to understand from flat textbook images. Often I can cut the ‘explanation time’ in half by rotating a 3D model of a region instead of verbally explaining it from 3 different static views. It’s also an instant attention-getter in the lecture hall – 100% of the students are focused on understanding what they are seeing on the screen.

Cyber Anatomy has also had a major impact on the laboratory dissection component of our courses. We developed a series of dissection overview videos using the simulation that students are required to view before coming to lab. We’ve found that supplementing lab preparation with Cyber Anatomy significantly reduces the amount of time required to complete dissections and leads to students being more engaged with finding anatomical relationships during their lab work.

One of the most important features of Cyber Anatomy for me as Anatomy faculty is the ability to customize my own presentations by selectively adding/removing content to focus students’ attention on only the most important aspects of a given region. I’ve yet to find another product that allows me that same degree of control over the presentation.

Cyber Anatomy has also been an invaluable resource for our public education and outreach initiatives. I can pack up my laptop and deliver an immersive, engaging experience for learners of all ages without the limitations of our on campus learning spaces. Cyber Anatomy works as well in a lecture hall as it does in an elementary school cafeteria or a retirement community common room.”