BackgroundBackground Anatomy has always been one of the more

difficult subjects to teach.

Recently, Interactive Digital Media has helped to provide new ways to study anatomy: Self Directed Learning, which is based in interactive programs

However, some students still experience problems with this less structured approach to learning.

BackgroundBackground

Wide range of innovative resources to support anatomy teaching

Dissection videos

Interactive powerpoints

Potcasts,

Plastinated specimens, etc.

However, students request the provision of some form of feedback to provide reassurance that they are on the right track

GoalGoal:: to describe and evaluate to describe and evaluate the use of Dragster® to reinforce the use of Dragster® to reinforce Self Learning of Veterinary Self Learning of Veterinary Anatomical structuresAnatomical structures

- - InteractivityInteractivity- Autoevaluation- Autoevaluation

MethodMethodThe present work is based in two

facts Strategic collaborations between

teaching institutions.

A recent software: Dragster®

(Webducate)

Collaborations: Veterinary Faculty in Murcia (Spain) &

the RVC (London, England). Interactive bilingual programs

Development of plastination material

Veterinary Faculty in Murcia and the Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (Caceres, Spain)

Teaching and research in animal models for minimally invasive surgery

What is DragsterWhat is Dragster®®?? A new software launched by Webducate, to

enhance interactive learning experiences through the use of “drag and drop” activities.

Works over images or videos

Available by subscription (≈ 50 Euros/year).

How does DragsterHow does Dragster®® work?work? Activities created from pictures or videos

Straight forward menu (≈ 20-30 min/activity)

Publication of the activity (4 files): Web page or Learning Environment (Blackboard, Moodle, etc).

Examples:

Example 1: Horse leg lateral dissection

Example 2: Dog abdominal laparoscopy video

Creation of activities based on images of bones, dissections, radiographs, CT, MR and laparoscopy videos.

A set of activities was trialled with students Veterinary Faculty of Murcia (UMU):Veterinary Faculty of Murcia (UMU):

10 activities of the pelvic limb

85 students

10 days before examination

Royal Veterinary College (RVC):Royal Veterinary College (RVC):

5 activities of the pelvic limb

22 students.

10 days after examination

At the end students were asked to fulfil a Survey Sheet

Experimental designExperimental design

Survey on Dragster use

• Give your opinion about the ACTIVITIES

1= No at all

2= A little

3= Indifference

4= Quite a bit

5= A lot

Entertaining Motivating Help self-directed learning Easy to use Compliment dissections Compliment the theory

• Give your opinion about the FEED-BACK QUESTIONS Easy to answer Useful for revising Usseful for helping me pass the exam

Survey on Dragster use

Other topics: (Yes or Not)

• Would you have used these activities for revising before your

exams?

• Would you like to have access to these sort of activities as a part

of the teaching plan?

RESULTSRESULTS Evaluation of Activities

The activities were...

3,91 3,75

0

1

2

3

4

5

Entertaining

UMU

RVC

Not at all

A little

Indiference

Quite a bit

A lot

The activities were...

4,64 4,57

0

1

2

3

4

5

Help Self-Directed Learning

UMU

RVC

RESULTSRESULTS

Not at all

A little

Indiference

Quite a bit

A lot

The activities were...

3,21

4,19

0

1

2

3

4

5

Easy to use

UMU

RVC

RESULTSRESULTS

Not at all

A little

Indiference

Quite a bit

A lot

RESULTSRESULTS

The activities were...

4,24 4,24

0

1

2

3

4

5

Complimentary to dissections

UMU

RVCThe activities were...

3,89

4,29

0

1

2

3

4

5

Complimentary to theory

UMU

RVC

RESULTSRESULTS Evaluation of Feed-Back Questions

The feed-back questions were...

3,112,62

0

1

2

3

4

5

Easy

UMU

RVC

The feed-back questions were...

4,54 4,52

0

1

2

3

4

5

Useful for revising

UMU

RVC

The feed-back questions were...

3,99 3,81

0

1

2

3

4

5

Useful for helping to pass theexam

UMU

RVC

RESULTSRESULTS

Would you have used these activities for revising before your exams? Yes 100 %

Would you like to have access to these sort of activities as a part of the teaching plan? Yes 100%

Conclusions:Conclusions: The development of interactive drag and drop

activities with Dragster® has proved relatively straightforward.

Feedback from learners indicates that these materials are valued by students as a useful facility to enhance self directed learning in Veterinary Anatomy.

Collaboration between two different educational institutions has provided an efficient process to simultaneously create the same content for students in different countries giving the product a wide readership.