12/15/95

Sam Hendrix (334) 844-3698

AU RADIOLOGIST RECOGNIZED FOR ON-LINE TEACHING DEVICE

AUBURN -- An Auburn University radiologist has been honored for the role she played in devising an interactive, computer-based system for teaching ultrasound to veterinary students.

Judith Hudson, an assistant professor in the AU College of Veterinary MedicineÕs Department of Radiology, has received one of 27 national MSD AGVET Awards for Creativity in Teaching, presented by the Merck AGVET Corporation.

Hudson produced a computerized version of a junior level course on radiology taken by all AU veterinary students. Students can access the program through the on-site veterinary network and review their lecture notes or practice skills they've learned by selecting different example cases.

"We've in essence created an electronic textbook, something the students can take home with them and use at their convenience," Hudson says. "The real advantage is that they can interact with it, study those parts of different subjects they want to know more about or might be weak in, and challenge themselves by taking the built-in tests that we never grade."

Hudson built the computer version of the ultrasound class because the four- year veterinary curriculum at AU does not allow enough time to learn ultrasound.

"We have so much to teach them and so little time," she said. "The computer version of our ultrasound course gives our students more opportunities to prepare for the careers they're soon going to be starting."

The program covers ultrasound examinations of 10 major organs, mostly normal, healthy organs in small animals. Hudson is at work on a similar program to supplement student coursework in radiology.

Hudson said the AU-produced programs could eventually be used by other veterinary colleges throughout the country, and in time by veterinarians around the world.

dec95:AU-vetprog

CONTACT: Hudson, 334/844-5045.