What is Resource Builder?

 Resource Builder has been developed by a team of Veterinary academics and technical specialists who needed a 'user-friendly' method of building on-line case-based learning activities for veterinary students. It is a suite of templates that enable educators to build a variety of interactive cases and quizzes. These resources are:

 Case Builder

This resource allows you to create simple cases consisting of background information about the case and a given task. In addition, the builder can provide links to supportive material such as results of diagnostic tests, images or background reading.

 Hot Cat

This is an interactive diagnostic tool that allows users to assess the animal's clinical presentation via descriptions and images and then select or pretend to 'purchase' diagnostic tests based on their clinical assessment of the case. Each case has a restricted budget that tracks the student's 'purchases' as the results of diagnostic tests are delivered - thereby simulating real case decisions. The order in which diagnostic tests are purchased can be monitored by the teaching staff so that assessment tasks regarding the justification of diagnostic tests can be used. This tool is designed for students in the middle stages of their veterinary degree.

 Virtual Practitioner

This resource is similar to Hot Cat except there is greater complexity. After the initial introductory case background, the users must work through several stages of the consultation process. They are required to make tentative diagnoses, select tests and think about a final diagnosis and treatment plans. This tool is designed for students in more advanced stages of the veterinary degree.

 Image-based quiz

This resource allows teaching staff to use any image (gross or microscopic) to create a quiz using labels to direct the students to areas of interest. Multiple choice questions based on structures indicated by labels on the image can then be created. This is suitable for developing learning tools for students in all stages of the veterinary degree from anatomy to pathology to radiology.

How can I use it?

Resource Builder is adaptable for use in formative or summative assessment, and as individual or group work. It integrates well with Learner Management Systems such as WebCT and therefore provides the student with streamlined access to the resources and the automated assessment systems.

Some academics use Resource Builder as the basis for tutorial discussion, e.g. students bring along a printed version of their completed Virtual Practitioner case and compare and discuss their responses with others. Others use is as a basis for group work activities where students solve cases together and then have to critique the approach taken as an individual assessment task (eg Hot Cat), while others use uploaded case report forms in the Case Builder and Virtual Practitioner tools for students to complete and submit using the drop-box in WebCT. Some students use Resource Builder as a revision tool or to practice problem solving techniques essential for veterinary practice.

What can it do for me?

With Resource Builder you can use a collection of materials drawn from authentic cases to create useful learning tools for developing a range of essential graduate attributes. Clinicians in particular have access to a wealth of material from their consultations - radiographs, pathology reports, patient images etc - that can be used to create cases in Resource Builder. Many academics have collected images over many years in their areas of speciality which can then be used to fabricate a case or simply use the image in an interactive quiz tool.