Development of an Online Distance Learning Platform Combining Anatomy, Imaging, and Surgical Practice to Support Mastery Learning of the Equine Locomotor Apparatus.

The researchers developed an online teaching platform that integrates the study of anatomy, imaging, and surgical practices on a horse’s locomotor apparatus to address challenges in veterinary anatomy education, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic. The platform aims to enhance students’ understanding and application of anatomy in surgery.

Challenge in Veterinary Anatomy Education

The paper begins with an acknowledgment of the inherent challenges in teaching veterinary anatomy. These problems include:

• A limited amount of classroom time that can be dedicated to thorough anatomy lessons.
• High expenses associated with physical learning materials and facilities.
• The difficulty in accessing animal cadavers for practical anatomy lessons, primarily due to animal welfare considerations.

Consequently, it was observed that recent veterinary surgery graduates tend to have inadequate knowledge about anatomy, implying a crucial gap in their education.

The Need for Online Distance Education

In light of the current COVID-19 pandemic, which has greatly affected face-to-face teaching, the authors saw a need for the development of effective online distance education tools. The need is particularly pressing in specialized areas like veterinary surgery, which currently lack adequate online resources. The authors discovered no existing teaching platforms that integrated anatomy with other applied disciplines such as imaging and surgery.

Development of the Online Distance Learning Platform

The authors therefore sought to create an online distance education platform that would focus on the surgical anatomy of a horse’s locomotor apparatus. They selected this anatomical region because it is the most common focus of equine surgeries. Their approach included the following steps:

• First, they prepared anatomical pieces of the locomotor apparatus.
• They complemented these with materials related to diagnostic imaging, surgery videos, and theoretical explanations.
• An interactive radiological anatomy tool was also included to support practical application and interactive learning.
• Finally, they uploaded all these materials onto a virtual platform accessible over the Internet.

Expected Benefits of the Platform

It is anticipated that this platform will aid students undergoing surgical training by enhancing their understanding of anatomy and how it applies to actual surgical procedures. The researchers hope that this type of integrated, practical education will help to address the identified gaps in veterinary surgical education.