Reconsidering the lecture in modern veterinary education

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Higher Education Pedagogy

Background:

• Increasingly large student cohorts in higher education create pressure on resources and impact teaching effectiveness.
• Traditional teaching methods, particularly lectures, face challenges in engaging students within large-group settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the lecture as a teaching method in response to challenges posed by large student cohorts in veterinary education.
• To explore strategies for enhancing student engagement and connection to the veterinary medicine discipline.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative discussions and reflections between a UK veterinary practitioner and an educational researcher.
• Analysis of teaching and learning literature focusing on large-group settings.

Main Results:

• Existing literature often focuses on technical teaching tips for large groups, which have limitations.
• Effective teaching requires addressing the emotional aspects of the teacher-learner relationship to foster genuine connection.

Conclusions:

• Technical teaching strategies alone are insufficient for addressing challenges in large higher education cohorts.
• Incorporating emotional intelligence and fostering a strong teacher-learner connection is vital for effective knowledge transfer and student engagement in veterinary medicine.