Effective Use of Plastinated Specimens For Hybrid Learning of Veterinary Anatomy

Abstract

With the official announcement of the new type of coronavirus-induced COVID-19 outbreak as a global pandemic, a special situation that no one has ever encountered has started. Developments that are expected to happen in next decade in many fields have been completed in the last 3 years. One of these fields was undoubtedly education. Hybrid learning is a trending educational approach that combines face-to-face and online learning. The aim of this article is to give ideas and make suggestions about how plastinates, which have been used efficiently in anatomy practices and professional training, can be used in hybrid learning of veterinary anatomy. Plastinated specimens come to the forefront for hybrid education with various advantageous features. They are not only non-toxic, dry, odorless materials, but plastinates also can simulate the natural anatomic appearance in a detailed manner. With the help of new-generation acrylic paints and dyes which can penetrate into tissues, plastinates offer a unique natural look rather impressive than any other techniques. Due to the features mentioned above, plastinates are also convenient materials for handling, transportation or storage. These specified properties were discussed in terms of the compatibility to hybrid learning procedures in this article.