(https://reg.conexsys.com/Files/ContentVersionFile/56988/Animal_Assisted_Education.pdf )
AAI is broadly defined as any intervention that includes an animal as part of the process (Kruger and Serpell, 2010). It encompasses targeted therapeutic interventions with animals (Animal-Assisted Therapy), less structured enrichment activities with animals (Animal-Assisted Activities), and the provision of trained animals to assist with daily life activities (Service or Assistance Animals), (O'Haire, 2015).
The use of AAI has been related to promising outcomes in a number of populations, including increased social interaction among children with autism spectrum disorder (O'Haire, 2013), increased social behaviors, and reduced agitation and aggression among persons with dementia (Filan and Llewellyn-Jones, 2006; Bernabei et al., 2013), reduction in symptoms among patients with depression (Souter and Miller, 2007), and increased emotional well-being such as reduced anxiety and fear (Nimer and Lundahl, 2007), (O'Haire, 2015).
1) social skill development and obedience training for the pet,
2) therapy or activity skill training for the pet and handler,
3) establishing and maintaining a positive relationship with counseling and educational facility staff,
4) assessing the appropriateness of AAT with a particular client or student,
5) the basics of zoonoses (transmittable diseases) and risk management,
6) establishing and applying counseling or educational goals and interventions, and
7) assessing therapeutic or educational progress " (Chandler, 2001).
• improve socialization and communication;
• reduce isolation, boredom and loneliness;
• brighten affect and mood, lessen depression, and/ or provide pleasure and affection;
• improve memory and recall;
• address grieving and loss issues;
• improve self-esteem, be presented with opportunities to succeed and feel important, and improve feelings of self worth;
• improve reality;
• improve cooperation and problem-solving ability;
• improve concentration and attention, and increase engagement;
• decrease manipulative behaviors;
• improve expression of feelings;
• reduce general anxiety;
• reduce abusive behavior;
• improve an ability to trust; and
• learn appropriate touch (Gammonley, et al., 2000).
• practice teaching the animal something new;
• engage in play with the animal and other types of appropriate interactions;
• learn about and practice care, grooming, and feeding of the animal;
• learn other information about the animal (breed, history, etc.);
• reminisce about the animal or past animals;
• remember and repeat information about the animal to others;
• take the animal for a supervised walk;
• receive and give appropriate affection to and acceptance from the animal;
• discuss how animals may feel in certain situations;
• learn gentle ways to handle animals;
• follow a sequence of instructions with the animal;
• observe and discuss the animal’s response to human behavior;
• interpret animal behavior as it happens; and
• generalize animal behavior to human circumstances.
• gaining knowledge about animals;
• learning humane animal care;
• developing motor and physical skill through human-animal interactions;
• gaining animal training;
• practicing discipline;
• incorporating an attitude of kindness and compassion;
• learning about nurturance;
• practicing loyalty and responsibility;
• experiencing human-animal bonding;
• learning responsible pet ownership; and
• learning AAT and AAA training and activities (Delta, 1999).
Handbook on Animal-Assisted Therapy Theoretical Foundations and Guidelines for Practice Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=2PruqyaDw6wC&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=animal+assisted+education&ots=bVpzgE5Abd&sig=7D4YtSR0iaqVOHMhPcG8bDOTsp4#v=onepage&q=animal%20assisted%20education&f=false
Pedersen, H. Animals in Schools. (2010). Retrieved from https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=K4Wwdy1QgO8C&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=animals+in+schools&ots=Lp8MHhildZ&sig=VnZbFg-2bidh3RRxYs4zt_eoBy8#v=onepage&q=animals%20in%20schools&f=false
Aniaml Assisted Education (AAE) Breakdown. Retrieved from https://reg.conexsys.com/Files/ContentVersionFile/56988/Animal_Assisted_Education.pdf
Chandler, C. Animal-Assisted Therapy in Counciling and School Settings. ERIC Digest. (October, 2001). Retrieved from https://www.counseling.org/resources/library/ERIC%20Digests/2001-05.pdf
O'Haire, M.E., Guerin, N.A., and Kirkham, A.C. Animal-Assisted Intervention for trauma: a systematic literature review. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01121/full