Learn to see like an expert
Eye tracking in Veterinary Medicine
Experienced veterinarians know what to look for during clinical examination of an animal. But how do you learn to observe like an experienced veterinarian as a student?
Sanne van Zalen, lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, uses eye tracking technology to better understand the learning process of students. She uses glasses with infrared sensors that accurately measure where the student's eyes are focused.
While the student examines an animal, the glasses send real-time data to a laptop. A red circle appears on the screen, indicating where the student's gaze is directed at that moment. This shows how a student collects visual information during a clinical examination and whether that way of looking corresponds to the gaze of an experienced veterinarian. Top of form Bottom of form
From research to education
“Although we are not yet using this technology in education, the first steps have been taken. A pilot project was launched in the summer, in which students tested the glasses in practice.” The results of this pilot project should clarify whether and how the glasses can play a role in veterinary education.
Improving observational skills
Van Zalen sees great potential in the glasses. ‘My goal is to teach students to look more closely by consciously training their observational skills. If you know what you are looking at – and what you might be overlooking – you can improve your focus. The eye-tracking glasses not only provide insight into what someone sees, but also into how someone learns.’