Practice Makes Perfect

Compressing a Decade into a Day Using Computer Gaming to Learn Johne's Disease Control Program Design

Authors

  • M. T. Collins Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
  • J. McDonald Technology for Learning Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
  • E. A. Horn Technology for Learning Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
  • C. K. Worrell Technology for Learning Center, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
  • B. Longoria Division of Information Technology, Academic Technology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706
  • J. Cheetam Division of Information Technology, Academic Technology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/aabppro20104135

Keywords:

Johne's disease, control programs, computer simulation, gaming, clinical experience

Abstract

Johne's disease (JD) control in dairy herds requires changes in herd management in combination with routine use of diagnostic tests and specific actions on test results. Outcomes of JD control programs, i.e. changes in prevalence, take at least five or more years to be seen on farms. Thus, it takes many years before bovine practitioners personally experience the success or failure of JD control programs in their clients' herds - a long learning cycle. Computer simulations allow for gaining clinical experience on virtual farms before tackling JD control in reality. Gaming concepts challenge learners to attain a passing score or improve their score by repeated attempts; in effect, trying to model expert behavior.

Cover image of the 43rd Conference Proceedings: Two short-horned cattle grazing in a field, surrounded by a flock of egrets. Yellow background.

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Published

2010-08-19

Issue

2010

Section

Research Summaries 2