220 Vol. 7 No. 4, October-December 2005 JK SCIENCE From The Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, *Cardiorespiratory Physiology, Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute, New Delhi and **Pharmacology, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi (India). SHORTARTICLE Correspondence to: Dr. Bikash Medhi, Assistant Professor, Department of Pharmacology, PGIMER, Chandigarh-160 012 (India). Introduction Whenever the issue of animal experiments in research and teaching arises, medical schools put forward the plea that animal experiments are an essential part of teaching curriculum and where possible, there use is assisted by other learning techniques like models, charts, videofilms, etc. Institutions where animals are used for experiment and research have formed committees to ensure that use of animals for any purpose is adequately justified and that such work is done as humanely as possible. This is exemplified by the federal Animal Welfare Act in America under which all institutions using animals are required to have a committee for animals that reviews any procedure pertaining to animal use. Due approval by such a committee is to be obtained before initiating the use of animals for any purpose (1). In addition, a novel concept of learning by computer simulation has emerged as a futuristic trend with potential global impact. The present study was conducted in three medical colleges of North India to assess the student opinions of the present role of experimental teaching and interactive computer assisted learning (CAL). Materials and Methods A student opinion inventory was prepared consisting of a set of twenty seven statements. The content of these statements ranged from issues on role of practical work in biomedical research and learning; the possible reactions towards dissections and whether they are beneficial to the medical student; how such work on animals will benefit them; the moral justification behind animals for laboratory use; the attitude towards alternative teaching tools like models, preserved specimens, documentary films used in the medical institutions and the students’ attitude towards these modes of learning; the role of computer graphics and simulation in the present day teaching and how it compares with manual dissection work. The students’ perspective was also assessed for the current scenario that given the option, should dissections be banned or made compulsory. An open comment was invited over the usefulness of computer technology/simulation in performing long distance surgeries. The inventories were distributed to 150 undergraduate of fourth and final year MBBS students in three medical colleges and institutions of North India. The students were Experimental Teaching and Interactive Computer Assisted Learning : The Student’s Viewpoint B. Medhi, M. Sukhija, S. Upadhayay*, A. Bhatia**, K. Anuradha Abstract A student view point regarding utility and present role of experimental teaching and interactive computer assisted learing was cited from three Medical Colleges of North India using a set of questionnaires. The majority of the student cited that animal experiments are important part of medical curriculum. However, computer assisted learning techniques will be useful aid in future but currently cannot replace animal experiments as the tool of choice for medical education and research. Key Words Experimental CAL, Teaching