Many K-16 educators agree that active learning is a key component for student success in life sciences. At the same time, some instructors are frustrated by inconsistent student participation in these activities and may revert to traditional teaching strategies. Horse caregivers face a similar frustration when they lead a horse to water and it…

School principals are uniquely positioned to bring innovative programs to K-12 schools. Therapy dog programs are one such program that has received much attention from educational communities nationwide. The problem is that while several studies can be found proposing the benefits of therapy dog programs in school settings, there needs to be more…

The paper intends to discuss India's humane cultural traditions and its animal protection laws, justify the current need for humane education in Indian schools and preschools, offer examples of humane education curriculum ideas, and highlight the work of animal welfare organizations in India. Since ancient times, reverence and compassion for…

Here's a fresh way to help your students learn life science by determining how you can help them learn best. "Uncovering Student Ideas in Life Science, Volume 2," offers 30 new formative assessment probes--engaging questions that can reveal what students already know (or think they know) about a core science topic. Armed with that…

Animal companionship has been found to have a positive influence on human well-being, and the presence of pets can have a subtle yet significant impact on the healthy development of students. Pet companionship takes various forms across different fields in China and other regions worldwide, and the impact of such companionship remains uncertain.…

The inclusion of canines in educational practice is becoming increasingly popular in Irish schools. The primary objective of this systematic literature review was to examine the emerging phenomenon regarding the application of certified canines in educational settings to support the social communication competency of children aged 4 to 14 years.…

"Invasive" species are generally viewed with contempt. Yet many Indigenous peoples have more nuanced approaches to newcomer species informed by kinship relations, and some ecologists suggest that ecosystems have always been dynamic and these species occasionally play beneficial roles in their new homes. A critical and decolonial…

The advancement of breakthrough concepts in science and their implementation in society can only be achieved by starting early with the education of new generations of scientists. The concept of 'Replacement, Reduction and Refinement' (the 3Rs) in regards to animal use was first described by Russell and Burch in 1959. The 3Rs have nowadays a…

The current body of scholarly literature highlights the increasing importance of Mixed Reality (MR) in the field of education since it provides an alternative way through visual stimuli inside an immersive environment. In recent years, the possibility for educators to use Mixed Reality as an additional pedagogical instrument has witnessed notable…

This study aims to build upon the prior findings of a study, "Paws for Intervention: Perceptions about the Use of Dogs in Schools" conducted by Zents et al. (2017). Zents et al., (2017) examined faculty and student perceptions regarding the effectiveness of an established school therapeutic dog has in terms of aiding their student's…

Schools in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, funded by a Royal Society Partnership Grant, engaged in an animal behaviour project with a researcher at the University of Oxford's Wildlife Conservation Research Unit. The pupils used camera traps to conduct wildlife surveys and investigate behavioural responses in European badgers ("Meles meles"). The…

Research shows that keeping animals in classrooms can have profound effects on student well-being and success. With this practical guide, you will discover how to select a classroom pet, introduce it to students, and design carefully thought-out lessons centered around the animal.

Canine-assisted activities in schools can benefit students' educational, emotional, and social needs. Furthermore, they could be an effective form of non-clinical mental health treatment for children and adolescents. In the United Kingdom, school dogs are growing in popularity, however, little is known about how parents perceive canine-assisted…

In the 1990s, classes throughout the United States began participating in Classroom FeederWatch, sending data on birds they had seen at feeders in their schoolyards to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. The launch of eBird in 2002 opened up new possibilities for submitting data on all types of bird species, allowing users to record and upload…

Educators in inner-city schools face many challenges in meeting the needs of students. Examples of such issues that are specific to urban public schools include poverty, ethnic segregation, broad-spectrum discrimination, poor policies, low student performance, inexperienced teaching staff, and low expectations of students. The general problem is…