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This workbook follows very closely on the heels of the successful McCurnin’s Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, now in its seventh printing. Compiling the work of nineteen writers, the workbook is made up of thirty-nine chapters that correspond to the textbook. The learning objectives stated within the workbook chapters mirror those within the text and challenge the student using the following questioning format: True/False, Matching, Short Answer, Fill-in-the-Blank and Word Puzzles. The word puzzles are of a variety, with a different "game" at the end of each chapter so as to avoid repetition and boredom from setting in. These games include challenging crosswords, searches and word building exercises that test the terminology skills of everyone regardless of their level of expertise. In Chapter Seventeen, parasitology is addressed with beautiful black and white images of parasites for identification purposes, and a thoughtful review of endo- and ecto-parasites for practical examination.
I have spent the last three months examining the workbook in conjunction with the textbook for possible inclusion as a required text for a variety of veterinary technology classes. After careful examination and comparison to class objectives, my opinion is that the workbook is better suited for daily use in a two-year or vocational-technical style program than a collegiate program, based on the amount of time that instructors have to cover material through terms and semesters. Also, because the exercises are somewhat long, the instructor could expect to spend a considerable amount of time grading-- time that might be better spent on other tasks related to the didactics of the classroom.
However, the workbook has its uses, and would be a very nice instructor reference to have on hand for generating test questions that meld with the presentation of lessons from the textbook. It would also be a great summer review tool for students expecting to take the VTNE. At my institution we have a class entitled "Board Review" that is dedicated to reviewing for the boards and practicing positive test-taking strategies; there is a place for this workbook in such a class.
This workbook receives a five-star rating for use by instructors as opposed to students, although I feel that the instructors should have the final say-so on recommending the book for their students after personal examination. I have utilized the workbook strictly to generate test questions and design homework exercises, but have not made the workbook a required text at this time.
Publisher: Saunders/Elsevier, St. Louis, Missouri (2010).
486 pages, hard cover.
ISBN: 978-1-4160-5702-4.
Editor's Note: This workbook is a companion text. Please see also the review for McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, Seventh Edition.