Instead of requiring all students to participate, teachers who wish to facilitate dissection labs may consider an opt-in policy. Such a policy allows dissection labs to be offered as an extra learning activity that students can opt to participate in. There is no “extra credit” given; however, it provides motivated and interested students the opportunity to perform a dissection if they are interested and willing to participate.  

10 Benefits of an Opt-In Dissection Policy:

1. Encourages engaged participation and academic focus: Students who are motivated and interested will sign up for the dissection lab, making it likely that students will approach the lab in an academic manner. 
2. Increased teacher to student ratios: With a smaller and more dedicated group of students, the teacher is able to direct a quality lab, ensuring dissections are performed correctly and student learning is maximized. 
3. Supports safer, more manageable lab settings: The smaller number of students makes it easier to provide proper safety instructions, protective gear and parental consent forms with hazards and safety precautions outlined. 
4. Respects student beliefs: This policy respects students’ rights and cultural traditions – for example, students whose religion forbids them from touching certain meats. 
5. Preserves teacher choice while offering flexibility: As opposed to a total ban on dissection, a teacher’s right to offer a dissection lab is still respected. 
6. Reduces number of animals used: Smaller numbers of students participating in dissection labs reduces the impact on wild species, especially those known to be over-exploited and/or in decline (e.g., leopard frogs, bullfrogs, spiny dogfish sharks), thus avoiding conflict with environmental protection lessons and ethics. 
7. Aligns with ethical values: Elimination of required dissection is more consistent with society’s view of animal ethics in science. Canadian universities ascribe to the Canadian Council on Animal Care standards which requires the use of alternatives instead of animals wherever possible. 
8. Lower costs: Alternatives to dissection are now readily available and are less expensive in the long term than dissection specimens. Many alternatives are available online with a onetime cost or are free. 
9. Alternatives to dissection have been shown to be effective learning tools: The Society for Humane Science conducted a systemic literature review of the educational efficacy of non-animal alternatives compared to dissection. They found non-animal alternatives performed as well as, or better than, dissection in 90% of the studies.  
10. Prevent negative associations: Dissection labs may discourage a future study in sciences or careers in biology. For some adults, their most vivid recollection of high school science education is a negative one, remembered mostly for its repugnant smells and associations, not for what was learned there. An opt-in only dissection lab eliminates these unwanted associations and the potential for discouraging highly compassionate students. 

Reminder: The Alberta curriculum only requires basic anatomical knowledge and organ identification. The dissection of animals is not required to perform these skills.