Level 2 Lab Course Description

This is a K.O.I. intermediate-level course.  Enrolling students will almost certainly derive more from this course if they come into it with a good basic knowledge of all the aspects of Koi keeping covered in the other eight (8) sections of the Certified Koi Keeper curriculum.   At a minimum, it is recommended that students have reviewed and understand the information presented in the K.O.I. 101 course, available free on this web site to Registered Users (registration is also free…register here).  However, this Level 2 Lab course is open to any Koi Keeper who wants to learn more about diagnosing pond and Koi health problems and identifying potential solutions.

Course Description:

Part 1 - A DVD provides the first part of a two-part lab course.  The DVD format was chosen for practical reasons.  We believed attending an in-person lab would be somewhere between inconvenient to cost prohibitive for most students.   At the time of this writing, we have students that reside literally thousands of miles apart; one even outside the US (and across the pond!).   With this and part 2’s online format, students won’t have to buy a plane ticket, spend money on a hotel room and meals in restaurants to attend this lab.  With the money saved, students could likely buy a nice microscope, a good digital scale and pay for the entire CKK curriculum of courses if they were so inclined.

It’s worth noting that the DVD portion of the course is not a shopping list offering multiple ways to do various things.  The video shows, by example, one good way to do each of the subjects covered.  It is believed if students learn and understand one basic and usable technique, they can be immediately effective and expand their knowledge of options later.

Part 2 - The second part of this course will be an online seminar (webinar or something similar) where students and instructor(s) participate in reviewing case studies.  This is intended to sharpen the students’ detective skills and teach a systematic way to problem solve.  And like Part 1, it required no travel.

Koi keepers enrolling in this course will become familiar with:

In Part 1

1. Fish handling including: netting and tubbing (also referred to as bowling), anesthesia, examination, some ulcer treatment and recovery from anesthesia.
2. Microscope work including: parts and use of the microscope and scraping and scoping of Koi
3. Using and testing drop-type water quality test kits – theory and application.

In Part 2

1. How to approach a pond and/or Koi problem
2. How to make and use SOAP notes
3. How to form a differential diagnosis
4. How to identify and sort through rule-outs
5. How to determine a course of action
6. What information to provide the Pond/fish Owner

Participants in the course will receive:

For Part 1

1. An approximately 45-minute DVD  made especially for this course;
2. Written information supplemental to the DVD;
3. A Lab Kit that includes such items as:
   A 500 ml polycarbonate “Perfect Beaker” for measuring fluid volumes,
   Test tubes, tube caps, a test tube rack and a brush for cleaning the tubes,
   Chemicals for testing the accuracy of 3 different water test kits,
   A small amount of MS222 fish anesthesia, and
   A few other “goodies,”
4. Instructions for “Testing the Test Kits;”
5. An assignment sheet detailing the various tasks to be done and reported on relative to the information on the DVD and, in some instances, using the items in the test kit, and
6. The instructor’s contact information so that you can ask, and have answered, any question you may have.

For Part 2

1. Written information pertinent and explanatory to Part 2 of the course;
2. An assignment sheet detailing tasks to be done and reported on relative to Part 2 of the course;
3. A time and date plus instructions of how to attend the online webinar session,  and
4. An opportunity to opt-in or opt-out of a particular session.  At least two (2) sessions are planned for each calendar year, except 2011, which will have only one (1) webinar.

Course Syllabus:

Click HERE for a detailed Syllabus

Required Materials (provided by student):

All students will need a working email address, internet access, a microscope with at least the ability to magnify up to 100 times (microscopes with three magnifications, 40x, 100x and 400x capabilities, are recommended), a weight scale with the ability to weigh to 0.01 grams, a drop-type water test kit (for ammonia), a Koi net and a Koi tub (aka, a Koi bowl).  You may email the Part 1 instructor for recommendations on microscopes and scales.

Course Instructors:

Part 1: Spike Cover - Click HERE for Instructor Biography

Part 2: Karen Pattist - Click HERE for Instructor Biography

Certification:

This course if one of nine (9) courses required to become a K.O.I. Certified Koi Keeper.  Read more about becoming a Certified Koi Keeper and about the requirements for continued Certification.

Mentoring:

Mentoring is available for this course.  Please contact the K.O.I. Student Coordinator to learn more.

Price: $50.00

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