Advances in Teaching and Learning in the Anatomical Sciences

We are an educational research team interested in enhancing student learning through innovative pedagogy in the anatomical sciences.

About the Lab

Led by Dr. Danielle Bentley (Associate Professor, University of Guelph), the ATLAS Research Laboratory consists of a small collection of researchers interested in the ways that students learn human anatomy. At the moment, the lab is primarily interested in student assessments, including two-stage collaborative testing, self-paced laboratory bell-ringer examinations, and modified multiple-choice questions. Using this website you can learn about our current projects, meet the team members, read about our recent published work, and keep up to date via our lab blog.

A vertical collage of active members in the ATLAS Research Lab as of Fall 2021. From top to bottom: Dr. Bentley, Philippe Contreras Lafaury, Sarah Eid, and Angelo Sotto.

Blog Posts, News, Events

From Donors to Diagnostic Imaging: clinical and integrative applications of gross anatomy across healthcare

Anatomy is often one of the first immersive, content-heavy courses students encounter in health sciences education. Its detail, rigour, and vocabulary can be overwhelming — and in traditional models, it can become disconnected from the broader context of human health. This is where clinical integration makes a difference. When students see anatomy not just as isolated structures, but as part of dynamic systems that affect diagnosis, surgical planning, rehabilitation, and p

Evidence-based Teaching Practices

Danielle Bentley

Nov 10, 20256 min read

The Jumpstart Model: How Educators Can Help Students "Jump" Into Learning

This blog was inspired by the Jumpstart Model designed by Durham College. For full details about the model and to learn about specific examples of use, please see their webpage linked here . [1] Image caption: An illustration of the Jumpstart Model from Durham College. [1] This structured approach to lesson planning starts with a preliminary connection activity, followed by cyclical content and practice activities delivered in lecture, and ends off with a summary activity th

Evidence-based Teaching Practices

Maggie Zheng

Nov 4, 20256 min read

Student Perspectives: Sounding the Alarm on the Dreaded Bell-Ringer Exam

The traditional bell-ringer exam is a long-standing anatomy exam format frequently criticized by students for inducing anxiety. And...

Perspectives on Recent Research

Claire Lo

Jul 2, 20256 min read

28 College Ave W, Guelph, ON, Canada

danielle.bentley@uoguelph.ca

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