About the LearnPathology Tool
The increasing number of medical students at Norwegian universities has created significant challenges for microscopy-based teaching in histology and pathology at the medical school at NTNU. Conventional microscopy classes are constrained by limited physical capacity, as microscopy laboratories can accommodate only a restricted number of students at a time. In addition, both teachers and students have reported that traditional light microscopes are challenging to use, particularly in introductory courses. Opportunities for independent study have also been limited, as access to specialized microscopy equipment outside scheduled classes has been cumbersome.
To address these challenges, NTNU and SINTEF jointly developed LearnPathology, a web-based learning tool designed to support both teaching and self-directed learning in histology and pathology. The platform is based on digitized tissue sections and allows simultaneous access for multiple users. LearnPathology has now been implemented at the medical school at NTNU and is actively used in both disciplines.
LearnPathology provides students with access to a comprehensive database of digital tissue sections from both healthy and pathological specimens. The platform includes interactive digital microscopy courses, instructor-prepared annotations from NTNU faculty, and self-assessment quizzes. By enabling flexible access to high-quality digital learning materials, LearnPathology supplements traditional teaching and supports scalable, student-centered education.
Through the project, we have also developed valuable knowledge related to web-based interactive tools for large digitized tissue sections, the opportunities and challenges of web-based teaching in histology and pathology, user-centered development of technology-enhanced learning, and remote teaching models where instruction is organized centrally while students are located at decentralized campuses.
