Bridging theory and practice: a facilitation-driven game for reflective, collaborative veterinary education.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Education
• Digital Simulation
• Clinical Reasoning

Background:

• Traditional veterinary education methods may not fully develop essential critical and systems thinking skills.
• A need exists for innovative tools to enhance complex clinical decision-making in veterinary practice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an innovative digital simulation for veterinary education.
• To assess the simulation's effectiveness in fostering critical and systems thinking skills.
• To explore the simulation's impact on bridging theoretical knowledge and real-world clinical application.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative approach using focus groups, written documents, and facilitator reflections.
• Development of a digital simulation integrating interactive gaming, narrative, and debriefing.
• Utilized backyard poultry management as a case study with interactive decision points and "traps".

Main Results:

• Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: multifactorial understanding of poultry health, diverse perceptions of the veterinarian's role, and the simulation as a reflective trigger.
• The simulation promoted active learning and systems thinking.
• The tool effectively linked clinical observations with broader regulatory, economic, and social factors.

Conclusions:

• The facilitation-driven simulation framework transforms case-based learning into a dynamic, reflective inquiry process.
• This approach offers a promising alternative for enhancing veterinary educational outcomes.
• The study highlights the potential for digital simulations to improve clinical reasoning and prepare students for complex challenges.