The Use of Adaptive Learning Technology to Enhance Learning in Clinical Veterinary Dermatology

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medical Education
• Educational Technology
• Dermatology Training

Background:

• Clinical teaching in veterinary medicine presents challenges for educators and students.
• There's growing interest in technology-based adaptive learning for enhanced student experiences.
• Limited research exists on adaptive learning's efficacy in veterinary medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of adaptive learning modules on veterinary students' dermatology rotation performance.
• To test the hypothesis that access to adaptive learning improves test scores compared to traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Third and fourth-year veterinary students were randomly assigned to a treatment group (access to adaptive modules) or a control group (no access).
• Participants completed pre- and post-rotation tests and a questionnaire on their learning experience.
• Statistical analysis compared post-test scores between groups and within groups from pre- to post-test.

Main Results:

• Students using adaptive learning modules scored significantly higher on the post-rotation dermatology test (p = .019, d = 0.83).
• Both groups showed significant improvement from pre-test to post-test (treatment: p < .001, d = 1.52; control: p = .002, d = 0.74).
• Students found the adaptive learning technology beneficial for their education.

Conclusions:

• Adaptive learning platforms can effectively supplement clinical teaching in veterinary dermatology.
• This technology offers a valuable tool for improving veterinary student learning outcomes in specialized rotations.
• Veterinary students perceive adaptive learning as a positive and helpful educational resource.