A Review of Some Innovative Teaching Concepts and Methods Used in the Field of Veterinary Medical Education

Abstract

Ongoing global developments affecting knowledge generation, information expansion, societal changes, and the changes in the practice of the veterinary medical profession provoke new expectations, and consequently a serious change in education and training. Veterinary medical education must respond to these new challenges, and is expected to make veterinary medical practice safer and better. In this paper we reviewed some of the innovative teaching concepts, methods, and tools which are currently known in the field of veterinary medical education, and the results they have had in a real veterinary medical teaching environment. To improve the teaching of veterinary medicine, several innovative educational/learning concepts and methods were employed, modified, developed, and applied. This study reports on the major new methods and concepts, describe their principles, outline the results of testing and applications in real-life circumstances, and describe their advantages and disadvantages related to veterinary medical teaching, and students’ attitudes towards them. In addition, this paper briefly introduces instructional design as the main factor that must be re-evaluated, and explains why learning outcomes must be developed and assessed to take advantage of innovative concepts and methods in teaching and curricula design. The study proposes that a combination of these innovative teaching methods is expected to have better learning outcomes needed in the field of veterinary medical education. Recommendations, including integration in the curriculum of team-based learning, peer instruction, and service learning, were put forward in this paper for consideration of all concerned.