A nimal experimentation is limited in many curricula due to the expense, lack of adequate animal facilities and equipment, and limited experience of the teachers. There are also ethical concerns dealing with the comfort and safety of the animals. To overcome these obstacles, we developed a ''dry laboratory'' using ''virtual rats.'' The ''virtual rat'' eliminates the obstacles inherent in animal experimentation, such as inadequate budgets, as well as avoiding important animal rights issues. Furthermore, no special materials are required for the completion of this exercise. Our goal in developing this dry laboratory was to create an experience that would provide students with an appreciation for the value of laboratory data collection and analysis. Students are exposed to the challenge of animal experimentation, experimental design, data collection, and analysis and interpretation without the issues surrounding the use of live animals.

Many students have limited opportunities to develop scientific expertise. This is caused, in part, by the scarcity of scientific educational materials and the expense of supplies and equipment. To address these concerns, we developed an inexpensive laboratory experience that introduces students to the scientific process. Our objective was to create an interactive experiment that requires minimal equipment. To this end, we created an exercise that examines muscle biomechanics. The students conduct a hands-on experiment as researchers and as subjects by investigating the physiological concepts of muscle biomechanics using only supplies that can be found at any school. Questions are interspersed throughout the text to highlight key principles and challenge student thinking on the important concepts. This exercise not only provides an opportunity for students to interact and discuss the important physiological principles but also provides a window through which students may see a future in science.