Each course has a message board dedicated to that course. Only the course participants, VIN/VSPN staff, and course instructors can access the course message board.
The course message board contains a set of folders.
Each folder contains a set of discussions.
And each discussion contains a set of messages posted by the VIN/VSPN staff, course participants, and instructors.
Content
Naming the Folders
The message board folders should structure the discussions for the course and make things easier to find and follow. There are a couple of different ways to structure your message board content, depending on what works best for your course.
- The most common way is to have a folder for each week's Real Time Session topic.
For example:
Week 1 - Approach to Diagnosis
Week 2 - Treatment and Patient Care
Week 3 - Prevention and Public Health Issues
- Alternatively, if there is more than one topic covered per week, you can have the folders organized by topic.
For example:
Atrial Rhythms
Basic ECG Analysis
Escape Rhythms
Lethal Rhythms
Interesting Cases
...
**You'll notice that each of the folder titles is relatively short (35 characters/spaces is max)
Each message board contains a set of standard course folders:
*Course Communications - used to document course emails sent to participants
*Introduce Yourself - used by participants to introduce themselves to each other
*Technical Issues - used by participants to report technical issues to the VIN/VSPN staff
In addition to these, VSPN will often include one or more of the following folders:
Other Questions -
Interesting Cases - for medical courses
Interesting Situations - for practice management courses
Questions about HW quizzes and/or final -
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Initial Posts
A week before we open the course area for your course, we will create the message board folders. When the course opens, the CE staff will post an initial message in each folder. This initial post will be named after the folder and will include instructions about the messages that should be posted to that folder.
Following are examples of 3 different types of initial message board folder posted messages. The initial post will default to the Basic Description unless you provide other instructions.
Example 1: Basic Description
Folder Title: Wk 2: Endocrine disease
Initial Post:
Post your comments or questions about Week 2 Endocrine disease topics in this folder.
PLEASE use the REPLY TO button to reply to a discussion thread already started that you want to post additional comments in
PLEASE use the POST NEW button to start a new discussion thread topic that has not already been started.
Example 2: Description Requesting Information
Folder Title: Current practice protocol:
Initial Post:
What resources do you currently use in your practice for a weight management plan? (BCS chart, Weight Loss Progress chart, measuring cup, written plan, etc.)
PLEASE use the REPLY TO button to reply to a discussion thread already started that you want to post additional comments in
PLEASE use the POST NEW button to start a new discussion thread topic that has not already been started.
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE
Example 3: In-Depth Posting Requirements:
Folder Title: Calculating Feeding Recommendation:
Initial Post:
Assignment Instructions
As we discussed in class, accurate calculation of the recommended feeding plan is important. We should consider all factors including the pet owner's preference for food type, the pet's preference for food type, and treats.
Pick one patient that you have seen this week that is overweight.
* Enter your name and the pet's name in the Subject Line.
* Give a brief signalment (Sx.), i.e., breed, age, weight, BCS, and feeding history.
* Recommend a target weight and BCS.
* Calculate the recommended RER, DER, and amount of food. You are not limited to the use of a Hill's pet food. However, you must know the kilocalories per cup or can of whatever food you choose so that you can calculate the amounts.
Be sure to include the calories provided in treats.
Use the chart in the back of the Hill's Key to Clinical Nutrition as a reference for RER and DER values.
You may also find the kilocalories for Hill's pet foods under the recommended food. References for other foods or treats may be found in Small Animal Clinical Nutrition appendix or from the manufacturer.
Everyone will review all case examples posted and comment. You will learn from reviewing other cases as well as calculating your own case.
HOW TO POST FOR THIS EXERCISE:
Example:
Subject Line (type your name and the patient's name into the subject line): Jennifer Jones, Snookums
Sx: Neutered female, Cocker Spaniel, 5 years old, 35 pounds, BCS 5/5.
Food Hx: free feeding Hill's Science Diet Adult Lamb Meal & Rice formula Dry, ½ can Hill's Adult Gourmet Turkey Entrée Canned (14.75 oz) and just two Heinz Meaty Bone Medium treats per day.
Current Calorie Intake:
Lamb & Rice Dry-free feeding?
Turkey canned ½ 14.75 oz 254 kcal
Meaty Bones 2 med 128 (2X64) kcal
Total At least 382
Target Weight & BCS: 25 lbs, BCS 3/5
RER: 433 (from chart in Hill's Key)
DER: 433 X 1.0 (DER factor for canine weight loss) = 433
Feeding Recommendation for Weight Loss:
Canine r/d Dry 1 cup 220 kcal
Canine r/d Canned ½ can 148 kcal
Prescription Diet Treats 4 52 kcal
Total 420 kcal
(or use one Meaty Bone at 64 kcal for the treats)
Feeding Instructions: feed ½ cup dry and ¼ cup canned in the morning and at night. Use Treats throughout the day as usual.
Monitoring: return in two weeks for weigh-in on February 14th
DO NOT REPLY TO THIS DISCUSSION THREAD: PLEASE FOLLOW THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR POSTING YOUR CASE ABOVE.
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Submission Guidelines
You will need to send your course facilitator a list of message board folder titles and any special text for the folder initial posts.
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