From face-to-face teaching to scalable online learning
Skill Vet Scan delivers high-quality, in-practice ultrasound training for vets and veterinary nurses, with a strong emphasis on confidence, repetition and real-world application. The brief was to extend this hands-on teaching into an online learning format that could support learners before and after workshops, while also standing alone as accessible, self-paced CPD.
The challenge was translating clinical knowledge into engaging, structured online learning without relying on time-intensive video production.
The starting point was a collection of existing teaching materials:
PowerPoint slides, a detailed ultrasound pocket book, and in-practice teaching workflows. Rather than recreating content from scratch, the focus was on repurposing and redesigning this material into modular, interactive lessons that mirror how clinicians actually learn and scan in practice.
Together, we mapped out a course structure that would:
- Work for new graduates and experienced clinician
- Support post-workshop consolidation
- Build confidence through progressive skill development
- Allow learners to dip in and out as a reference, not just “complete and forget”
The courses were designed around clarity, repetition and application.
Key design decisions included:
- Short, focused modules aligned to clinical tasks (e.g. image optimisation, probe setup, orientation)
- Clear scaffolding from fundamentals (knobology and physics) through to point-of-care protocols
- Use of interactive content, reflective prompts and knowledge checks rather than long videos
- Consistent visual and structural patterns so learners quickly understand how to navigate each lesson
Course development highlights
The Five Magic Buttons & Common Artefacts (Free Introductory Course)
Designed as an accessible entry point, this course focuses on:
- Practical use of the five core ultrasound controls
- Understanding how common artefacts are created and how to recognise them in practice
- Linking image optimisation decisions to real-time scanning outcomes
- Building confidence in adjusting machine settings across different ultrasound systems
Knobology & Image Optimisation
Designed as a foundational module, this course focuses on:
- How ultrasound images are formed
- Understanding echogenicity and artefacts
- Practical use of the “five magic buttons” across different machines
- Translating theory into immediate scanning improvements
Point-of-Care Abdominal Ultrasound
This module builds on the foundations and introduces:
- Structured POCUS scanning protocols
- Case-based thinking and pattern recognition
- Visual reference material drawn from the ultrasound pocket guide
- Embedded checks to reinforce decision-making rather than rote recall
The abdominal module also acts as a template for future courses, allowing new topics (thoracic, cardiac, basic–advanced abdominal scanning) to be developed more efficiently over time.
Platform and system thinking
Alongside course design, an important part of this project was selecting a platform that would allow Skill Vet Scan to launch quickly, test demand, and focus on teaching rather than tech.
Rather than investing early in a fully bespoke LMS build, we chose PeerVet as the initial delivery platform. This provided a low-barrier route to market while still supporting the level of interactivity and structure required for high-quality ultrasound education.
PeerVet was selected because it:
- Supports SCORM-based interactive learning, not just video hosting
- Handles enrolment, payments and certificates centrally
- Removes the need for upfront platform costs or ongoing technical maintenance
- Allows content to be updated and expanded easily as the course suite grows
- Provides exposure to an existing veterinary CPD audience
This approach allowed Skill Vet Scan to validate and launch their online courses without delaying delivery or committing to heavy platform development too early. Importantly, the content and structure were designed to remain portable, meaning modules can later be migrated to a standalone LMS if and when the business outgrows the initial platform.
The result is a professional, modular online learning suite that complements Skill Vet Scan’s in-practice training while opening up access to a wider, international audience.
The courses:
- Reinforce hands-on teaching rather than replacing it
- Support confidence through repetition and reference
- Reduce reliance on live delivery alone
- Create a scalable foundation for future CPD development
Most importantly, the online learning reflects the same practical, supportive and clinically grounded approach that defines Skill Vet Scan’s in-person training.
Explore the course
If you’d like to see how the learning experience works in practice, you can explore the free course here:
The Five Magic Buttons & Common Artefacts, available on PeerVet as an on-demand, self-paced module designed to support confident ultrasound scanning in everyday practice.
