Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

12-1982

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Major

Curriculum and Instruction

Major Professor

John R. Ray

Committee Members

Charles L. Faires, Russell L. French, Ken O. McCullough

Abstract

For the past two decades, institutions of Veterinary Medical Education have reduced the number of hours in the veterinary gross anatomy curriculum to make room in already burdened curricula for changing emphases in content and species. To cope with the task of preparing veterinarians in basic sciences with more content in less time, anatomy departments have instituted a variety of changes in curriculum offerings and instructional methods and strategies. No composite description of the results of these changes exists to guide current and proposed programs in veterinary medical gross anatomy. The purpose of this study is to provide a composite description of curriculum and instruction in veterinary medical gross anatomy in North America by determing the methods and techniques of selecting and teaching gross anatomy content. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions: What are the past and current trends of the last ten years and for the next ten years? What are the current opinions on prevailing attitudes and philosophies? What teaching methods and strategies are used? How are required curriculum and instructional material selected? How are students and courses in veterinary gross anatomy evaluated?

This study is an analysis of existing data gathered by Dr. Gerald R. Bratton formerly of The University of Tennessee, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Animal Science and presently teaching at Texas A & M University. A preliminary questionnaire was compiled and sent to a national review panel of veterinary anatomists in various regions of the United States for evaluation and critique. The original questionnaire was revised and newly suggested items were added. Questionnaires were mailed to all 24 schools in the United States and Canada at the time of the study. All schools reponded. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Analysis System to obtain individual item response by frequency and percent. Hand analysis of subjective questions and a few objective questions was performed. Results were grouped into logical subsets and are presented in tabular form with written narrative and referenced to other studies and articles in the literature as they may apply.

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