New era of science education in high schools

High school students can say goodbye to dissecting smelly frogs in science class, and say hello to the ‘faux frog.’

The Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board is phasing out the use of frog and fetal pig dissection in all eight of its high schools over the next two years. The board is ushering in a new era of science education with the introduction of virtual technology to teach students about anatomy and biology.

Through a new partnership with the University of Windsor’s Canadian Centre for Alternatives to Animal Methods (CCAAM), students will use virtual dissection kits that still allows students to have a hands-on learning experience — animal free. The CCAAM works to advance new methods in animal-free research and testing.

“Animal dissection is academically unnecessary and, despite its prevalence in North American schools, it is not practiced worldwide,” said Dan Fister, executive superintendent of innovation and experiential learning.

“We believe this is a more ethical, humane and engaging way to teach students science and we hope this sets an example for school boards right across Canada.”

CCAAM donated the kits to all eight of the board’s high schools. Each kit is designed for a class of 30 students to work in groups of three. Students will also have access to the training lab at the CCAAM and will work with Dr. Charu Chandrasekera and her research team on the Anatomage Table, a 3D anatomy visualization system.

“The biggest advantage of non-animal dissection is that it allows students to continue learning about physiology and anatomy throughout an entire semester because we don’t have to dispose of actual animals after a single use,” said Gisele Jobin, the math and science curriculum consultant with the board who has been helping introduce the new kits in WECDSB schools.

“Students can revisit the subject matter at any time, which increases their ability to make connections between all of the biological systems.”