A variety of non-animal alternatives
exist for training purposes.
Replacement training alternatives are educational aids and/or training approaches that can replace animal use or complement existing training practices.
Typically, training replacement alternatives are used to meet existing training objectives and to provide other educational outcomes that cannot be met through animal use. General examples of replacement alternatives in training 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 training alternatives, the following resources may be useful.
Online resources
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 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]
- 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.
Development tools for alternatives
- University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (n.d.) RECAL.
- This website provide downloads of tools for the development of computer-assisted learning tools. RECAL is developing methods and tools to break this cycle by disaggregating existing computer assisted learning tools to separate their constituent learning objects from its runtime environment. By basing this work on principles of standards, objects and reusability, the long-term viability of computer assisted learning alternatives has been improved and their adaptation by teachers to meet divergent learning needs has been facilitated.
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