ERIC Number: EJ1488443
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Nov
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1935-9772
EISSN: EISSN-1935-9780
Available Date: 2025-10-03
Optimizing Anatomy Dissection Teams Using the Yukari Method: A Peer Compatibility-Based Approach
Tohru Murakami1; Toru Araki2; Yuki Tajika1,3; Hitoshi Ueno1,4; Sotaro Ichinose1; Hirohide Iwasaki1; Hiroshi Yorifuji1
Anatomical Sciences Education, v18 n11 p1262-1277 2025
Human anatomy dissection serves as a cornerstone of medical education, fostering not only anatomical knowledge but also teamwork and professionalism. Given the considerable intellectual, physical, and emotional demands of dissection, effective team dynamics are essential for student success. To enhance learning experiences and academic outcomes, we developed the "Yukari method"--an automated system for optimizing anatomy dissection team assignments. This method uses a heuristic local search algorithm to maximize peer compatibility based on student peer preferences and motivation levels collected via a secure web survey. Compared to random and self-selected teams, those assigned using the Yukari method showed approximately a 10% improvement in academic performance. Student satisfaction with Yukari-assigned teams was significantly higher than with random assignment and comparable to self-selection. This increased satisfaction, in turn, correlated with better academic outcomes. These findings suggest that the Yukari method is effective in medical education and potentially useful in other team-based disciplines, such as engineering and social sciences.
Descriptors: Anatomy, Laboratory Procedures, Medical Education, Medical Students, Teamwork, Professionalism, Heuristics, Algorithms, Academic Achievement, Student Satisfaction, Assignments, Computer Assisted Instruction
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Anatomy, Gunma University Graduate School of Medicine, Maebashi, Japan; 2Faculty of Informatics, Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan; 3School of Radiological Technology, Gunma Prefectural College of Health Sciences, Maebashi, Japan; 4Department of Gross Anatomy, Kyorin University Faculty of Medicine, Mitaka, Japan

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