Web-App Instruction

Mobile Device Courseware

Links to instructional web apps produced by
Veterinary Anatomy faculty at the University of Minnesota

Click to view a web site

Veterinary Anatomy Mobile Courseware

Canine Gaits
New: This web app employs cartoon animations to help veterinary students recognize the major gaits of cursorial quadrupeds (running animals), using the dog as a model. The ability to recognize gait strides and anticipate foot-fall patterns in a moving animal is important when identifying gait abnormalities.

Note: A Canine Gaits web site designed for computer screens is available at this URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/gaits/

Veterinary Anatomy Concepts Checker
This web app focuses on anatomical concepts. It gives students an opportunity to self-assess and clarify their conceptual understanding of anatomy principles. Per topic category, a series of concept screens is presented. Each screen consists of a concept statement followed by four phrases that are either true or false. Color-coded correct/incorrect responses appear as feedback to student choices. An Answer button reveals correct answers and a conceptual explanation. Topic and Concept buttons facilitate navigation.

Note: An Anatomy Concepts Checker web site designed for computer screens and Flash Player browsers is available at this URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/anatConcepts/

Applied Anatomy & Physiology of the Dog & Cat Lower Urinary Tract [ebook]
This material presents anatomical features and physiological concepts related to the ureter, urinary bladder and urethra of the dog and cat. The presentation is available as either an eBook or a PDF document. The eBook (.ePub) file must be downloaded via an FTP site and then made available to your eBook/iBook reader. The PDF file may be viewed in your browser or with your eBook/iBook reader. Click on the title for additional information.

Core Questions: Lower Urinary Tract
New: This computer and mobile device web app presents core questions related to the Urinary Tract. Students are expected to think about how they would answer each question before revealing the short answer and then the detailed answer provided by an instructor.

Note: A Lower Urinary Tract web site designed for computer screens and Flash Player browsers is available at the following URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/lut/

Developmental Anatomy Mobile Courseware

Embryology Highlights Screencasts
Veterinary Developmental Anatomy content is presented through a series of narrated screen presentations (screencasts). Taken together, the series of screencasts constitutes an online Introductory Embryology course. Initial units presenting gametogenesis, fertilization, early embryogenesis, and placentation are followed by screencasts concerning development of the various body systems. The screencasts were produced with Camtasia software; they are presented as .mp4 video clips (which Firefox browsers don't play).

Note: An Embryology Highlights Screencasts web site designed for computer screens and Flash Player browsers is available at this URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/embryoHL/

Mitosis-Meiosis Review
New: This web app provides a review of mitosis and meiosis for veterinary students studying fertilization in Embryology. The Review illustrates how germ cells give rise to four haploid gametes with unique genotypes via meiosis, in contrast to mitosis which produces two identical daughter cells. Gametogenesis is also reviewed. The web app is designed for smart phones, but it may be viewed on tablet or computer browsers.

Veterinary Neurobiology Mobile Courseware

MRI Brain Atlas
This web app presents proton-density-weighted MRI images paired with brain-transection images of a dog brain. The app is intended to provide quick access to canine brain MRI anatomy through a mobile device. Particular brain levels are accessible via a Gallery Menu (tap a small image) or a List Menu (tap a text button). At each level, a button toggles between MRI and brain section images. Labels per image can be switched on/off by tapping the image (or a Show/Hide button). Rostral/caudal buttons are available for navigation to adjacent levels. This web app can be viewed on a smart phone, a tablet, or a computer screen.

Note: The MRI images used in this web app were obtained from Canine Brain MRI Atlas, a web site designed for computer screens and a browser running the Adobe Flash Player, see: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/mriBrainAtlas/

Neurobiology Concepts Checker
This web app focuses on neurobiology concepts. It gives students an opportunity to self-assess and clarify their conceptual understanding of neurobiology. Per topic category, a series of concept screens is presented. Each screen consists of a concept statement followed by four phrases that are either true or false. Color-coded correct/incorrect responses appear as feedback to student choices. An Answer button reveals correct answers and a conceptual explanation. Topic and Concept buttons facilitate navigation.

Note: A Neurobiology Concepts Checker web site designed for computer screens and Flash Player browsers is available at this URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/neuroConcepts/

Locate Neurological Lesions Guide
Clinical neuroanatomy and clinical syndromes are presented in the context of a web app Guide for locating neurological lesions of a destructive nature. The Guide is intended to motivate veterinary students to use their neuroanatomy knowledge to diagnose locations of destructive neurological lesions. The Guide presents pertinent terminology, regional neuroanatomy and descriptions of clinical syndromes. Neuroanatomy images may be tapped/clicked to toggle (show/hide) labels.

Note: A web site designed for computer screens and Flash Player browsers is available. It includes clinical cases, allowing students to locate destructive neurological lesions by estimating location-probabilities per clinical signs. The web site is available at this URL: http://vanat.cvm.umn.edu/locLesion/

Miscellaneous Content

Veterinary Urinalysis Interpretation Quiz
This web app was developed so students could self-assess their capability to correctly interpret canine and feline urinalysis results. Following direct or random selection of a clinical case, multiple choice questions regarding interpretation of the urinalysis results are presented. Buttons are available to view the results, to choose or reveal the correct answer, and to display normal canine or feline urinalyses for comparison. (The web app was designed for smartphones, but it works as well for tablet or computer screens.)

Transitioning Computer Courseware to Mobile Web Apps [ebook]
To exploit the learning potential of mobile devices, we are in the process of converting existing web based computer courseware into mobile web apps. The conversion necessitates screen redesign and the selection of a new development platform (jQuery Mobile). This document explains our approach and recommendations regarding web app development. The document is available as both an eBook and a PDF document. The eBook (.ePub) file must be downloaded via an FTP site and then made available to your eBook/iBook reader. The PDF file may be viewed in your browser or with your eBook/iBook reader. Click on the title for additional information.

Note: This PDF document is a chapter in the eBook edited by A.H. Duin, E. Nater, & F. Anklesaria. (2012). Cultivating Change in the Academy: 50+ Stories from the Digital Frontlines at the University of Minnesota in 2012. The eBook is free: http://purl.umn.edu/125273