DairyCOMP Overview

The Center for Dairy Health, Management, and Food Quality at the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine has been proud to offer an online DairyCOMP305 training curriculum since 2003. During the past 6 years more than 1,400 learners from all over the world have completed this innovative online training.

The DC305 online courses that start on October 26, 2009 will be the final offering of the original three DC305 courses. After six years, we feel that it is time to make significant updates to the course materials so that our online courses meet the needs of the users of the DC305 program. Our faculty are working closely with Valley Agricultural Software to create a new set of online training courses that will be current with the latest releases of the DairyCOMP305 program. We anticipate that the new DairyCOMP305 online training curriculum will be available in the 2010 FALL semester.

Online registration is now available for the October 26th sessions at http://www.cvm.umn.edu/outreach/events/dairy_comp305/home.html. The registration deadline is Friday October 9th.

The Veterinary Continuing Education department is firmly committed to the highest quality continuing education opportunities. Thank you for your past support of our CE programs and we look forward to working with you in the future.

Paul Rapnicki, DVM MBA
University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine

Online training refers to a structured learning experience presented on a computer to students via the internet. Materials are organized into courses, and include a combination of formal teaching sequences and "hands on" exercises. Individual learners directly interact with the computer to proceed through the course. Students direct and pace their own learning. Each of these DC305 courses include weekly assessments or testing in the form of online quizzes and assignments.

Although online courses are classroom-like events, students and instructors are separated by time and geography. Instructors and students interact with one another by "chatting" online-typing in messages in discussion forums that all of the people whom are enrolled in the course can see. Because the instructor and learners are not online at the same time, this type of instruction is called asynchronous.

Uses of online training and education are as varied as organizations using this type of learning. The purpose of the University of Minnesota Dairy COMP 305 Online Curriculum is to teach the basic skills necessary to utilize the DC305 software. Online education provides a convenient, patient place to develop those skills.

To participate in a course, you will need:

• A windows-based computer with an internet connection (Macintosh is not supported)
• Internet browsing software (Internet Explorer or Netscape)
• A course CD and workbook (these will be sent to you prior to the start of the course)

Each Dairy COMP 305 Online Training Course has a specific number of units that need to be completed in a specific timeframe.

Training Course 1 is the entry level Course in the DairyCOMP305 on-line curriculum.  It is a eight week course with eight different units. Successful completion of Course 1 is required to earn 8 CE or ARPAS credits.

Training Course 2: Reproductive Records will build a foundation for using DairyCOMP305 to monitor dairy reproductive programs.  It is a ten week course with eight different units. Successful completion of Course 2 is required to earn 8 CE or ARPAS credits.

Training Course 3:  Somatic Cell Count Records places strong emphasis on both background information for use of individual cow somatic cell count records and advanced DairyCOMP305 program mechanics. It is a eight week course with six different units. Successful completion of Course 3 is required to earn 8 CE or ARPAS credits.