TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION: CONSTRUCTION OF DIDACTIC SIMULATORS SUBSTITUTES FOR ANIMALS FOR TEACHING THE GENITOURINARY SYSTEM EXAM OF THE CANINE AND FELINE SPECIES - TECHNICAL REPORT

Abstract

The use of live animals in higher education practices is being discouraged. For this, alternatives in the use of animal substitutes are motivated by the National Council for the Control of Animal Experimentation for the Production, Maintenance or Use of Animals and Teaching or Scientific Research Activities. In this scenario, teaching practices become challenging in the professional disciplines of the undergraduate veterinary medicine course. With technological innovation and advanced research resources, the profile of today's university students differs from previous decades. In addition, the demand of the labor market, professional qualification and the ability to solve problems are also important factors in the training of veterinarians. Considering the above, the objective was to present a technical report of the use of the Keller teaching methodology in the proposal of technological innovation in the construction of didactic simulators of the genitourinary system of the canine and feline species for the purposes of higher education and extension practices. For this, five undergraduate students of a veterinary medicine course were invited to build models of the aforementioned simulators, using the Keller methodology, under the supervision of a professor. As final products, for the teaching of the urogenital system of the feline and canine species, the following were built: a bitch simulator with mammary glands; a cat simulator for evaluation of the mammary glands; a fertile male dog simulator; a neutered male dog simulator and a fertile cat simulator. The aforementioned simulators allowed the learning of urethral probing of dogs, cats and, as well as the evaluation of the mammary glands. In higher education practices, the simulators were used by 229 students in the professional disciplines of a veterinary medicine course and 440 popular visitors to exhibitions appreciated the direction in tumor prevention in the Pink October Pet and Blue November Pet campaigns. The Keller teaching methodology used proved to be satisfactory and motivating to the studies of the students involved. The commitment and enthusiasm of the students who participated in the proposal was notorious. The contemplation and satisfaction of the students in the use of the simulators they created, in extension practices in the community, was also evident.