A variety of non-animal alternatives
exist for teaching purposes.
Teaching replacement alternatives are educational aids and/or teaching approaches that can replace animal use or complement existing teaching practices.
Typically, teaching replacement alternatives are used to meet existing teaching objectives and to provide other educational outcomes that cannot be met through animal use. General examples of replacement alternatives in teaching include:
- film and video
- models, mannequins and simulators
- multimedia computer simulation
- ethically-sourced animal cadavers and tissue
- clinical work with animal patients and volunteers
- student self-experimentation
- in vitro labs
- non-invasive field studies
This section has been adapted from Jukes and Chiuia (2006) From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse: Alternative Methods for a Progressive, Humane Education.
For more information on non-animal teaching alternatives, the following resources may be useful.
CCAC resources
Online resources
- Alternatives to Animal Testing Web Site (Altweb) (n.d.) Education Resources.
- Balcombe J. (2000) The Use of Animals in Higher Education: Problems, Alternatives, and Recommendations, Public Policy Series. Washington DC: Humane Society Press.
- This book examines animal use in education from a humane and ethical perspective.
- Dewhurst D. (n.d.) Sheffield Bioscience Programs.
- Jukes N. and Chiuia M. (2006) From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse: Alternative Methods for a Progressive, Humane Education, 2nd ed. Leicester UK: International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE).
- This book investigates alternative tools and approaches to support knowledge and skills acquisition within biological science, medical and veterinary medical education. Comprehensive information on over 500 of the latest products within the fields of anatomy, clinical skills and surgery, critical care, physiology and pharmacology are presented. [Must register to download]
- University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (n.d.) RECAL.
- RECAL provides software for the development of computer-assisted learning materials. The tools provided allow the learning objects programmed (educational content) to be separated from the particular authoring application. This saves redevelopment of the educational content as authoring applications change over time.
- Wikivet (n.d.) Online Veterinary Anatomy Museum (OVAM)
Databases of humane teaching alternatives
- InterNICHE Studies Database
- A free-access resource providing references and abstracts for academic papers on humane education and training.
- Jukes N. and Chiuia M. (2006) From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse: Alternative Methods for a Progressive, Humane Education, 2nd ed. Leicester UK: International Network for Humane Education (InterNICHE).
- This book provides comprehensive information on over 500 of the latest products within the fields of anatomy, clinical skills and surgery, critical care, physiology and pharmacology is presented in the book. Listed by discipline and then medium, the application, specifications and source for each product are detailed. [Must register to download]
- Norwegian Inventory of Audiovisuals (NORINA) database
- This a database containing more than 3800 audiovisual aid alternatives to the use of animals in teaching and training at the elementary school to university level. A description with comments and supplier information is provided for each alternative in the catalogue and visitors looking for information on dissection alternatives can click on a dissection alternatives link instead of entering search terms.
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