KNOWLEDGE MOBILIZATION

ITERATIONS IN EDUCATION
Improving User Experience and Education Through Co-Authoring a Widely Used
Textbook in Anatomy and Physiology
Dr. Katja Hoehn

Dr. Elaine Marieb

Professor, Mount Royal University

Pearson Education (San Francisco)

Department of Biology

Holyoke Community College (Massachusetts)

khoehn@mtroyal.ca

Creating a textbook involves ensuring that the content, text, and visual
diagrams explain concepts well and as accurately as possible. This
includes breaking the text into “bite-sized” palatable chunks that give the
students the opportunity to pause, reflect on, and apply what they have
learned from each section. The visuals are often just as important as
the text; realistic, vibrantly-coloured three-dimensional art is integral for
student learning in this subject as it helps to teach the concepts through
visualization in addition to theory. The figures must teach well not only
on the page, but also when projected on a classroom screen or when
viewed on a mobile device. Having a consistent set of symbols, colours,
and common visuals helps students transfer the information from text, to
screen, to practical use. Moreover, many of the figures become the basis
for animations and additional learning tools that are included online as
part of the book’s package.
The scope of anatomy and physiology is broad and evolves rapidly,
making it difficult for one person to be an expert in each area.

On the 10th Edition:

6
29
280

Number of languages translated
French, Korean, Czech, Chinese, Greek, Portuguese
Number of chapters
Number of supplemental online videos/animations

993

Number of figures
(Most have multiple parts — between 2 and 8)

5145

Number of items in online library, with an additional
3000 questions.

Consequently, faculty also need a textbook that can keep them
up-to-date in this field and give them the tools they need to teach
their students. Students today need a textbook that engages them
visually and can provide easily digestible information. This means that
the textbook includes a variety of online learning materials such as
animations, guided tours of anatomy, interactive learning modules, and
audio files that students can either do on their own or that are assignable
by the instructor.

Methodology
Katja has been intimately involved in the creation of many of the
animations and learning tools. She has also involved MRU students
by asking them to participate in focus groups to gain feedback on the
visuals and the impact they have on their learning.

“I really liked the textbook and all these new additions [to
this edition] will greatly improve the book and help make

studying a little easier…The flow chart/road maps will help

me succeed because it is an organized map that breaks down
the chapter, making it seem less difficult and complex.”

— Jennifer Kimura, student, Bellevue College, Washington

With each new edition, the goal is to help students engage more easily
with the content and learn more effectively than with previous editions.
Working on this textbook combines Dr. Hoehn’s skills from medicine,
research, and educating, and allows her to contribute to the scholarship
of allied health professionals.

Original Work
Marieb EN, Hoehn K. 2016. Human Anatomy and Physiology. 10th ed. San Francisco (CA): Pearson Education.