Uso de animais em sala de aula: instrumento para educação e sensibilização socioambiental

Abstract

The use of animals as a didactic tool, especially in the fields of science and biology, has been widely debated due to its pedagogical benefits and the ethical challenges it presents. This practice, regulated by guidelines such as the Use of Animals in Teaching or Scientific Research Activities (DBCA), is only justifiable when there are no equally effective alternatives or when replacement compromises the quality of learning. Studies highlight that the use of animals can promote engagement, contextualized learning, and the development of scientific skills, but it also faces criticism due to ethical concerns and the existence of alternative methods, such as virtual simulations and anatomical models. The main objective of this study was to investigate, based on a literature review, the use of animals in science and biology classes at different educational levels. To this end, we conducted an extensive literature review across six multidisciplinary databases and selected 56 studies that met the research inclusion criteria, published between 1980 and 2023. The research revealed that Brazil and the United States lead in the number of publications on the topic and that the use of animals in higher education is more common than in primary education. Despite this, a growing adoption of alternative resources, such as ecological trails, educational videos, and simulations, was observed, offering ethical and pedagogical solutions. It is concluded that the inclusion of animals in teaching should be planned in an ethical and sustainable manner, prioritizing practices that respect animal welfare and promote environmental awareness. Teacher training and the inclusion of ethical debates in curricula are essential to align education with contemporary demands, promoting transformative education committed to socio-environmental conservation.