Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 19, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
06:18

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm

Published on: October 20, 2022

Computer-based alternatives in higher education--past, present and future.

David Dewhurst1

  • 1Learning Technology Section, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, UK.

ALTEX
|November 7, 2006
PubMed
Summary

This article explores the transition from traditional animal-based teaching methods to modern digital alternatives in universities. It highlights the challenges of maintaining older software and proposes a new development strategy to keep educational content accessible and editable for instructors.

Related Concept Videos

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory01:26

Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory

Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The virtual pharmacology lab - a repository of free educational resources to support animal-free pharmacology teaching.

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2014
Same author

Distance learning improves attainment of professional milestones in the early years of surgical training.

Annals of surgery·2013
Same author

Computer-based alternatives to using animals in teaching physiology and pharmacology to undergraduate students.

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2013
Same author

How can we encourage teachers to use computer-based alternatives: the UK higher education experience.

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2013
Same author

The European Resource Centre for Alternatives in Higher Education.

Alternatives to laboratory animals : ATLA·2013
Same author

Study on the feasibility of provision of distance learning programmes in surgery to Malawi.

The surgeon : journal of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons of Edinburgh and Ireland·2011

Area of Science:

  • Educational technology within computer-based alternatives research
  • Animal welfare in higher education pedagogy

Background:

No prior work had resolved the persistent reliance on animal models within tertiary curricula despite the availability of digital substitutes. Educators have long sought to minimize animal usage through various technological innovations. That uncertainty drove the development of numerous software tools during the early nineties. These early programs often suffer from technical incompatibility with modern operating systems. This gap motivated a shift toward more sustainable and adaptable digital pedagogical frameworks. Prior research has shown that the underlying instructional design of these legacy systems remains pedagogically sound. However, the rapid evolution of hardware platforms has rendered many of these resources effectively inaccessible. That reality necessitates a reevaluation of how we preserve and update these valuable teaching assets.

Purpose Of The Study:

The aim of this study is to address the ongoing reliance on animal models within tertiary education. The researchers seek to identify strategies that promote the use of digital substitutes. This work examines the challenges associated with maintaining legacy software in a rapidly changing technological landscape. The authors intend to provide a solution for preserving the pedagogical value of older programs. They explore how a learning object approach can improve the flexibility of educational delivery. The study addresses the need for better integration of these tools into existing curricula. The authors aim to persuade educators to adopt more sustainable teaching practices. This investigation focuses on overcoming the technical barriers that currently hinder the widespread implementation of these alternatives.

Keywords:
pedagogical innovationdigital learning objectsanimal welfare educationinstructional design

Frequently Asked Questions

The researchers propose a learning object approach to development. This strategy preserves original instructional design while allowing faculty to modify content, thereby overcoming the technical limitations that rendered earlier software obsolete. Unlike static programs, these modular units remain compatible with evolving digital delivery platforms.

The authors identify learning objects as the primary tool for modernization. These modular components allow for greater flexibility compared to the rigid, monolithic software structures developed in the 1990s, which often failed to adapt to contemporary operating systems.

The authors argue that technical modernization is necessary because rapid changes in delivery platforms have rendered early software difficult to operate. While the pedagogical content remains valid, the lack of compatibility with modern systems prevents effective classroom integration.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 19, 2026

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm
06:18

The Collective Trust Game: An Online Group Adaptation of the Trust Game Based on the HoneyComb Paradigm

Published on: October 20, 2022

Main Methods:

Review approach involves analyzing the historical trajectory of digital pedagogical tools in university settings. The authors evaluate the limitations of legacy software developed during the previous century. This investigation examines the transition from static programs to modular, adaptable instructional units. The study reviews strategies for increasing faculty engagement with modern digital substitutes. The researchers assess the effectiveness of current methods for preserving instructional content. This approach focuses on the intersection of technological sustainability and pedagogical validity. The team synthesizes information regarding the challenges of maintaining software compatibility over time. This analysis provides a framework for understanding how to improve the delivery of digital educational resources.

Main Results:

Key findings from the literature indicate that thousands of animals are still utilized annually in university teaching. The authors report that many digital tools created in the early nineties are now functionally obsolete. Despite this technical failure, the underlying educational design of these programs remains valid. The researchers find that rapid technological shifts have created significant barriers to the continued use of older software. The study highlights that a learning object approach improves the flexibility of content delivery. This method enables instructors to edit materials, which increases the utility of the resources. The authors observe that teacher enthusiasm is high, yet technical obstacles frequently prevent widespread implementation. The data suggest that strategic support is required to facilitate the transition toward replacement and reduction.

Conclusions:

The authors propose that adopting a learning object framework preserves the integrity of existing educational content. Synthesis and implications suggest that modular design improves the long-term flexibility of digital instruction. The researchers indicate that enabling instructor-led editing capabilities facilitates broader adoption of these tools. This approach addresses the technical obsolescence that currently limits the utility of older software. The evidence supports the claim that content validity persists even when the delivery medium requires modernization. The team suggests that strategic awareness campaigns are necessary to encourage faculty to transition away from animal models. This review implies that sustainable development practices are required to maintain the relevance of digital alternatives. The authors conclude that technological updates are vital for the continued success of replacement strategies in higher education.

The authors utilize a project-based data type to illustrate the transition from static software to flexible, editable learning objects. This approach serves as a model for replacing animal-based instruction with sustainable, high-quality digital alternatives that teachers can easily customize.

The researchers measure the success of these initiatives by the degree to which they support replacement and reduction of animal use. They observe that despite teacher enthusiasm, technical barriers often hinder the widespread adoption of these digital substitutes in tertiary settings.

The authors propose that raising awareness and providing support for integration are essential for success. They claim that persuading faculty to adopt these technologies is a primary challenge that requires deliberate, strategic intervention to move beyond traditional animal-based practices.