Incorporating Web animation into health sciences education can be as challenging as it is rewarding. Animations enhance learning and encourage participation by offering a variety of visual, interactive experiences that can be accessed from anywhere at any time. Currently, the most popular and widely distributed Web animation software is Macromedia Flash, a vector-based program that produces animations that are optimal for Web delivery. Flash can be purchased at very low cost, is relatively simple to use, and has a highly ubiquitous player available for free on the Web.

Web animation offers excellent opportunities within the health sciences domain. Interactive tutorials, animations depicting dynamic processes that change over time, and self-assessment quizzes for students to use online or for faculty to use in the classroom are just some of the benefits Web animations provide. Research on the cognitive benefits of animation, video, and interactive Web sites versus static text and illustrations has shown that academic performance, including knowledge comprehension and retention, improve when Flash animation is added to educational materials. Web animations provide exciting opportunities to enrich the educational experiences of our students.