Studies Database

Patel J. A package of simulation softwares as an alternative of animal use with enhancing teaching quality for pharmacology practical classes [abstract]. ALTEX. 2005;22(Special Issue):18

Introduction: Large number of animals have been replaced by the use of simulation softwares in life science education with certain limitations that the dissection, tissue mounting and animal experimentation skills cannot be gained with the use of simulation softwares. To overcome such limitations in a part and further reduction of animal use, a package of simulation softwares has been developed for undergraduate pharmacology practical classes.

Objectives: The simulation softwares have been developed with two main objectives. First is, to provide alternative of animal use for pharmacology practical classes. Second is, to provide simulation softwares that not only reduce animal use but also enhance the teaching quality and attract the experts of education for their use in teaching. Methods: The softwares have been developed by a pharmacy teacher with the help of computer-programmers.

Results: Majority of pharmacology experiments has been covered in the simulation with provision of student evaluation mode with password protection. The package covers experiments of perfused and isolated frog’s heart preparation, frog’s rectus abdominus muscle preparation, rat and guinea pig ileum preparation as per pharmacy syllabus.

Discussion: The software will be useful for computer aided learning and practice examination and to replace number of animals. Various standard steps of animal experiments have been incorporated to thoroughly ground the users (students) with the procedure of the animal experiment. These features will be helpful not only for teaching but also for training the students for real tissue experiments and hopefully attract the teachers for their use in teaching.
 

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