For Students & Educators

Ethical Issues in the Classroom

Chick Hatching

Chick hatching programs may seem educational, but they raise serious ethical concerns. They don’t reflect a chicken’s natural life cycle and send the wrong message—that animals are disposable.

Alternatives:

• • Chick it Out app: Free digital simulation from egg to chick.
• Documentary videos of wild bird development. 
• Visits to ethical sanctuaries.

Animal Dissection

Traditional dissection can be distressing, costly and unnecessary. Check out our Say No to Dissection campaign to learn more.

Digital Dissection 💻
Engage students with interactive, tech-forward resources:

• Froguts: 3D virtual dissections with interactive tools and quizzes. Note: This software is no longer updated or supported but remains a valuable free resource.
• Victory XR: Free online frog dissection tool.
• Biosphera 3D: 12 animal models, including a free frog skeleton model.
• Vertebrate Anatomy: Free anatomical images and dissection visuals.

Hands-On Dissection 🤚
Great for tactile learners and classroom engagement:

• Kind Frog: Low-cost frog dissection model with lesson plans.
• SynFrog: Lifelike, reusable frog model with removable organs. 
• Getting Nerdy with Mel and Gerdy & Origami Organelles: Low-cost printable models.
• Southern Biological: Posters, mats and charts for visual learning.

Resource Catalogues & Databases
Explore these extensive databases for more alternatives:

• The Science Bank: Filter by species, cost and device compatibility.
• BioLeap: Curated selection of animal-free tools.
• InterNICHE: Browse 1,000+ tools by discipline, platform and budget.
• NORINA (Norecopa): Access over 3,000 teaching aids.

Loan Programs
Try before you buy:

• InterNICHE Alternatives Global Loan System: Borrow tools for free (just cover return shipping).

Know Your Rights: Study Choice Policy

In Australia, secondary students have the right to opt out of classroom dissection and choose humane, effective alternatives. A strong student choicy policy ensures that all students can fully participate in science education—regardless of their personal beliefs about animal use.

📝 AFSA has created a sample student choice policy to encourage schools to adopt clear, student-friendly policies that support informed choice and inclusive learning.

Chick Hatching

Chick hatching programs may seem educational, but they raise serious ethical concerns. They don’t reflect a chicken’s natural life cycle and send the wrong message—that animals are disposable. Alternatives include:

• Chick it Out app: Free digital simulation from egg to chick.
• Documentary videos of wild bird development.
• Visits to ethical sanctuaries.

Animal Dissection

Traditional dissection can be distressing, costly and unnecessary. Check out our Say No to Dissection campaign to learn more.

Digital Dissection 💻
Engage students with interactive, tech-forward resources:

• Froguts: 3D virtual dissections with interactive tools and quizzes. Note: This software is no longer updated or supported but remains a valuable free resource.
• Victory XR: Free online frog dissection tool.
• Biosphera 3D: 12 animal models, including a free frog skeleton model.
• Vertebrate Anatomy: Free anatomical images and dissection visuals.

Hands-On Dissection 🤚
Great for tactile learners and classroom engagement:

• Kind Frog: Low-cost frog dissection model with lesson plans.
• SynFrog: Lifelike, reusable frog model with removable organs.
• Getting Nerdy with Mel and Gerdy & Origami Organelles: Low-cost printable models.
• Southern Biological: Posters, mats and charts for visual learning.

Resource Catalogues & Databases 🗃️
Explore these extensive databases for more alternatives:

• The Science Bank: Filter by species, cost and device compatibility.
• BioLeap: Curated selection of animal-free tools.
• InterNICHE: Browse 1,000+ tools by discipline, platform and budget.
• NORINA (Norecopa): Access over 3,000 teaching aids.

Loan Programs 📚
Try before you buy:

• InterNICHE Alternatives Global Loan System: Borrow tools for free (just cover return shipping).

Know Your Rights: Study Choice Policy

In Australia, secondary students have the right to opt out of classroom dissection and choose humane, effective alternatives. A strong student choicy policy ensures that all students can fully participate in science education—regardless of their personal beliefs about animal use.

📝 AFSA has created a sample student choice policy to encourage schools to adopt clear, student-friendly policies that support informed choice and inclusive learning.

Animal-Free Dissection & Anatomy

• Digital tools: Kind Frog, Froguts, Victory XR, Biosphera 3D, Vertebrate Anatomy
• Hands-on models: SynFrog, Southern Biological
• 3D human anatomy programs:
  • Complete Anatomy: Interactive human platform.
  • Anatomage: Life-size virtual cadavers. 
  • Alensia XR: 3D library with 7,000+ illustrations.
• Resource catalogues: The Science Bank, BioLeap, InterNICHE, NORINA 

Know Your Rights: Conscientious Objection

In Australia, university students have the right to conscientiously object to the use of animals in teaching—and to do so without academic penalty. Under section 2.1.5 of the Australian code for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (2013), institutions must have and promote a conscientious objection policy. Unfortunately, many fall short.

To support ethical and inclusive learning, students need:

• Clear information about their rights and opt-out procedures.
• Access to humane, effective alternatives.
• Transparent, fair and supportive processes.

📝 AFSA has created a sample conscientious objection policy to help universities, animal ethics committees, student groups and policymakers uphold student rights and improve teaching practices.

Learn More

• Replacing Animal Research: Guide to bioscience course selection.
• The 3Rs InfoHub: Central portal of replacement strategies.
• InterNICHE book: 500+ alternatives and case studies.
• ALTBIB: Bibliography of animal testing alternatives.
• ONTOX: Advanced tutorial series that introduces the concept of ‘physiological maps’ in understanding how chemicals affect the human body.

Primary & Secondary

• BioLEAP: 3Rs-aligned lesson plans, classroom activities and assessments.
• TeachKind (PETA): Free humane education resources for compassionate learning.
• EU Commission: 3Rs classroom scenarios and teacher training modules.
• EU Science Hub: Open-access virtual reality tool for exploring alternatives to animal testing in an interactive way.
• Humanimal Trust: A free program for senior secondary students on the One Medicine approach, highlight the connections between human and animal health.

University & Vocational

• Phoenix Zones Initiative: Teaching guide for animal-free approaches in medical education.
• 3Rs Training Webinar: Introduction to ethics and innovation in the life sciences.
• AMA Journal of Ethics: Key concepts supporting reform in medical and veterinary education.
• SAGE Journal Collection: Case studies showcasing alternatives to animal use in teaching.
• EU 3Rs Education Report: Practical examples, policy context and guidance for integrating the 3Rs into university curricula.