VETPERT: A Veterinary Parasitology e-Revision Tool

Abstract

During the past two years of pandemic until today, the conventional face-to-face teaching and learning approach was limited by the Movement Control Order and Home Surveillance Order particularly for students and lecturers that are affected by COVID-19 infection. The capacity to conduct online classes was also limited due to low-bandwidth coverage in some areas during the early stage of pandemic; causing demotivation among final year veterinary students to make revision for their comprehensive exam. Therefore, a simple, compact and easily accessible interactive self-revision note of Veterinary Parasitology subject has been designed. All topics are embedded within one interface of ThingLink, a digital educational tool that integrates the use of visual media into interactive graphics. Rich Media Tags (RTM) are inserted on the uploaded static images thus creating special points that linked to the other platforms such as notes, figures, videos, audio, social media, Google forms and many more. By clicking the RTM, the students could also listen to the lecturer’s voice while navigating the revision note anywhere, anytime using any devices that are connected to the internet even in low-bandwidth areas. This learning tool requires the students to click the blinking icons to follow the pop-up of lecturer’s voice and instructions. The students are required to click the blinking icons from the right to the left to revise Veterinary Parasitology subject. To assess the students' understanding, the leftmost blinking icon located at the bottom of the interface has been generated to collect student’s attendance, questions and feedback in a Google form. All 41 final year veterinary students of Class 2020, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan used the tool for their revision. Seventeen of the students filled the feedback form. Eight of them responded with questions indicating their interaction and involvement with the created contents. Six of responded students found that this platform was very helpful to revise Veterinary Parasitology subject. This designated revision note has not resembled anything formerly used for teaching and learning of this subject. There is a potential to develop apps for veterinary courses revision notes based on this e-revision tool.