Teaching clinical practical and communication skills of the clinical skills lab of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the project is to teach clinical practical and communication skills in the Clinical Skills Lab (CSL) of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation (TiHo) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methodology: As a measure to limit potential SARS-CoV2 infections, the CSL learning stations were digitised and made available on the Moodle learning platform of the TiHo. Online quiz stations were also developed, as well as improvisations that allowed students to practise practical skills at home using everyday materials. Courses for Practical Year (PY) students were digitised and again combined with classroom exercises throughout the year. The teaching formats could be evaluated by the students by means of a questionnaire using a Likert scale (1=agree; 4=disagree). Results: A total of 24.92% of students (n=1272) completed the learning stations with improvisations. The quiz stations were completed with a percentage of 75.08%. Students indicated that the improvisations were easily implementable from home (M=1.33) and assisted in learning the practical skills in question (M=1.89). The quiz stations were considered helpful (M=1.40) and complementary to previous CSL offers (M=1.13). The PY students found the amount of teaching materials adequate (M=1.76) and described communication with the lecturers as problem-free (compulsory electives=1.24). Conclusions: Digital teaching is suitable as a supplement to existing face-to-face courses at the CSL, but cannot replace on-site training under the guidance of trained personnel. The CSL will continue to strive for a combination of online and face-to-face courses for some learning stations in the future.

Keywords: blended learning.; digital teaching; moodle; online teaching format; practical skills; veterinary medicine.

Table 1. Number of CSL teaching stations and CSL quiz stations completed on Moodle between 05.05.2020 and 14.10.2020.

Table 2. Excerpt of student feedback on CSL learning stations with improvisation.

Table 3. Excerpt from student feedback on CSL quiz stations.

Figure 1. Comparison of the original (top left and bottom of picture) and the digital (top right and bottom of picture) CSL learning station "milk sampling in cattle.”

Figure 2. Weekly plan for the digital training in the CSL for practical year students of the Clinic for Small Animals. The commnication topic block took place via Microsoft Teams, the remaining content via Moodle.