Miniature donkeys are rarely part of class lectures. But Dr. Andy Robinson, Department of Animal Biosciences, employed them on his hobby farm this year as novel teaching aides in his animal and plant biosciences courses.
“Donkeys are photogenic farm animals,” said Robinson, who shared his experience in animal breeding and farm life in remote videoconference lectures.
Other professors in the Ontario Agricultural College found ways to “bring the farm home,” including Dr. Mike Steele, who used videos and virtual farm tours for his dairy cattle nutrition course, and Dr. Katrina Merkies, who used virtual learning to teach equine management.