Technology renders animal dissections in school obsolete

Today's budding high school scientists can wave that all goodbye as new technologies such as narrated computer software, step-by-step DVDs and lifelike manikins are being developed to help students gain practical, and even hands-on, knowledge of internal biological systems. This not only improves the lives of animals, decreases their capture in the wild, and eliminates the need for intentional breeding, but also marks great improvements for the educators and learners themselves.

"All animals are conscious, living beings. We look to our educators to teach our students to be respectful of all life, and to teach the value of that life," said Erika Vercuiel, manager of the Animal Ethics Unit of the National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA).

"There is no question that at times, medical research is needed, but we aim to replace, reduce and refine any process involving animals, especially at high school and first-year university level."

Countries such as The Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Argentina, and Slovakia have already banned the use of animals in dissection at elementary and high school level. Several states in America have also passed policies that require schools to offer alternatives to dissection to those learners who do not wish to participate.

According to the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) in the US, 95% of medical schools in that country, including Harvard, Yale, and Stanford, and all Canadian medical schools, have discontinued the use of animal dissection for medical students and none expect or requires students to participate in animal dissection.

Simulation-based training

The PCRM reports that both students and educators prefer the use of simulation-based training to that of the use of animals. Studies have also concluded that learners engaged in alternative methods, such as interactive learning, narrated software, and DVDs, retain as much information - and in some cases even more - than students using animals.

"In addition, for schools not financially equipped to purchase animals for each student, each class, each year, along with costly lab equipment, the once-off fees for the purchase of alternatives are a welcomed affordable option," said Vercuiel.

Lessons become more efficient, as the time spent preparing and cleaning the classroom, teaching etiquette, and explaining procedures is eradicated when alternatives are employed. In addition, educators can customise and save lesson plans for their students.

Utilising alternative methods to dissection, especially at high school level, teaches learners additional lessons and benefits that go well beyond the biology lab.

Vercuiel continued: "Making a stand in the classroom encourages students to become conscientious citizens who respect animals and their environment. This type of compassion has been shown to overflow to the child's surrounding family and community."

On the other hand, an insensitive attitude towards animals, especially by adults the children has been taught to emulate, can actually be negative lesson for young learners.

Several alternatives are currently available, such as interactive DVDs, lifelike models and interactive computer models. The DVDs include a general notes for teachers and introduction to the external features of the animal, then leads the learners through the digestive, urinogential, circulatory system, nervous system, and skeleton systems.

For more information on the ethical alternatives to dissection, contact Erika Vercuiel at az.oc.acpsn@scihtelamina