Faculty-led Inquiry into Reflective and Scholarly Teaching (FIRST)

 

Date of this Version

5-2024

Document Type

Portfolio

Comments

Copyright 2024, Amy Walton

Abstract

This benchmark portfolio documents course design, student learning, and reflection of teaching methods for VMED 531 Introduction to Animal Welfare. This one credit hour course provides an overview of animal welfare topics and assessment through a veterinary medical lens. Participants are first year veterinary students that have been accepted into Professional Program of Veterinary Medicine (PPVM). This course creates a foundational knowledge base regarding animal welfare topics and fosters critical thinking with how veterinary treatments, surgeries, and animal-use practices influence animal welfare. The ability to utilize critical thinking skills and science-based evidence to create a sound solution is essential regarding welfare topics. A problem may have several acceptable solutions as personal ethics, professional ethics, and factors regarding the client-patient relationship can shape the resulting decision. Because of the nature of these topics and time limitations within a one credit hour course, it can be challenging to create meaningful assessments, particularly those that engage interest and stimulate a deeper level of thinking. Backwards course design was utilized to reevaluate current course content and create or alter existing assignments to meet course goals. Course design, student assessment, reflection of student learning, and future goals are described in this portfolio.

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