In science education, dissections of animals are an integral part of teaching, but they often evoke negative emotions. We aimed at reducing negative emotions (anxiety, negative affect [NA]) and increasing positive affect (PA) and self-efficacy by an experimental intervention using a predissection video to instruct students about fish dissection.…

Dissections of human organs and animals are an important part of medical and science education but students usually express negative emotions towards dissections. Some studies show a negative influence of disgust and anxiety on motivation, interest and achievement. Therefore, reducing anxiety and disgust should be an important aim. As humor can…

Dissections of single species (e.g., fetal pig) are a common student learning activity in introductory biology courses. Such dissections demonstrate location of anatomical parts and provide dissection practice but provide less opportunity for student critical thinking, numeracy and demonstration of the scientific method. A comparative anatomy lab…

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of interactive multimedia simulations and virtual dissection software on depth of learning among students participating in biology and chemistry laboratory courses. By understanding more about how simulation and virtual dissection software changes depth of learning, educators will have the…

Science educators and school administrators are reexamining the educational value of animal dissection in the nation's schools and are focusing on simulation as an instructional alternative. One implication of the debate is that simulations can lead to equivalent learning to hands-on dissection. The second implication is whether dissection is…

A statistical comparison of real and virtual frog dissections methods has been made. A study was designed to test whether students in high school AP biology class performed equally well using both methods or one method was better than the other.

Bioscience staff and students at Glasgow University in session 2005-06 were questioned on their attitudes to animal uses in higher education, as follow-up to a similar survey 20 years before. Disapproval by students of animal use was generally reduced compared to 20 years ago, but students remained in a "moral bind", recognising the…

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS DESIGNED TO COMPARE CHANGE IN CRITICAL THINKING IN GROUPS OF STUDENTS STUDYING HIGH SCHOOL BIOLOGY IN LABORATORY-CENTERED CLASSES AND IN LECTURE-DEMONSTRATION-CENTERED CLASSES. TWENTY BIOLOGY CLASSES WERE RANDOMLY SELECTED FROM THE FOUR SENIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN THE SALT LAKE CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT. TEN CLASSES WERE RANDOMLY…