We present an alternative to the traditional classroom lecture on the topics of metabolic scaling, allometric relationships between metabolic rate (MR) and body size, and reasons for rejecting Rubner's surface "law," concepts that students have described as challenging, counterintuitive, and/or mathematical. In groups, students work with…

Necropsy, the examination of animal carcasses to determine the cause of death, is an essential skill for many professionals. Traditional training methods, however, are costly and time-consuming. The article suggests that Web-based Augmented Reality (WebAR) can offer an immersive and cost-effective training experience for laboratory animal…

Objective: To investigate the physical activity levels of students enrolled in a standard fitness walking class versus a service-learning dog walking class. Participants: College students (N = 65) from a university in the Southeastern United States (71% female; 85% White; 72% seniors). Methods: Students wore NL-1000 pedometers twice a week for 50…

Canines can provide emotional support, create a nonjudgmental environment, facilitate positive social interactions, and shape student behavior. This study investigated the impact of a canine-assisted reading program on four second-grade students' reading fluency and attitudes toward reading. Oral reading fluency (ORF) was measured using ORF…

This study approaches the issue of autism in a case study. Specifically, it investigates how three key points in the daily life of a child on the autism spectrum change in the presence of a pet: social behavior, empathy and irritability. The aim is to study how the pet affects the child's daily life in the above points. The questions that are…

In education, therapy dogs are used in a variety of manners, such as, but not limited to, reading assistance programs, stress reduction visits, or welcome ambassadors after community trauma. This study was designed to explore multiple perspectives about the reasons for and interactions with therapy dogs in educational settings. The research…

Objective: To investigate the physical activity levels and experiences of students enrolled in a service-learning dog walking class. Participants: College students (N = 10) from a rural university in the Eastern United States (age = 20.8 years ±1.2; 80% female; 90% White). Method: Students wore NL-1000 pedometers twice a week for 50 minutes for…

Emotion is a central aspect for protecting the environment in environmental and sustainability education (ESE). As such, positive emotions toward nature can increase motivation to learn and take environmental action. This qualitative case study explored the complex interrelationship among place-based education, emotions and values related to ESE,…

The outbreak of COVID-19 during the spring 2020 semester prevented the normal face-to-face format of the Equine Reproduction and Foaling course and laboratory due to campus closure and prevention of students returning to campus. This case study provides a unique teaching strategy utilizing a cloud-based live feed video surveillance system for the…

This study explored the impact of an active project-based, aquaculture constructivist-learning program, as perceived by high school students. The purpose of this case study was to discover if participation in the program influenced students' interest, engagement, and future educational and career aspirations in science, technology, engineering,…

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to examine the lived experiences of general education teachers working with high-risk children that participate in therapy dog support in classroom settings. Interviews were conducted with 8 general education teachers who worked with high-risk children within an educational setting where…

Urbanization decreased natural habitats and technological developments cause children to become more and more disconnected from nature (Kahyaoglu & Yetisir, 2015). This disconnection has increased interest in ecology-based nature education in many countries. Ecology-based nature education is an out-of-school education program that enables to…

Background: This study considers the use of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs), specifically horses, in an educational setting, which has received minimal attention in the human-animal interaction research. Purpose: The study sought to understand perceptions of students in an educational leadership preparation program as they participated in…

This mixed-methods research study focuses on students', teachers', and parents' perceptions of the influence therapy dogs in schools can have on reluctant readers' attitudes about reading and motivation to read at school and at home as well as exploring changes in the participants' oral fluency. Eight student participants read to our school…

Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI) have been shown to positively affect students' academic abilities as well as their overall behaviour and social skills. In typically developing students, dog-assisted reading programmes have improved reading skills and attitudes towards reading in addition to general behaviour. AAI programmes for special…