Panel Presentation: Laboratory Animal Welfare Training Exchange: Laboratory Animal Science Virtual Training Tools

Maintaining the 3R’s is a critical component of establishing effective training to researchers and others working with animals.  Training in a virtual setting easily allows for reduction of animal use, refinement of techniques, as well as replacing animals by utilizing other training tools instead of live animals. Training involves three basic components: content, connection and application.  While the content varies, connecting with students based on their individual learning styles and demonstrating how to apply the skills virtually continues to be a challenge.  Recently, learning challenges have been exacerbated by the emergence of COVID-19.   COVID-19 has motivated us all to think outside the box, and create virtual training tools in order to provide training without sacrificing quality while establishing a method that employs the 3R’s.  This presentation will delve into various virtual tools that can assist training coordinators, and other laboratory science professionals to administer training to a varied audience, while also providing an effective way for an audience to learn laboratory animal science topics.

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate the use of various software applications in order to reduce the use of live animals for training and increase learner engagement

2. Identify ways in which software applications can be used to improve training in a laboratory setting