The Effect of Farm-Animal-Assisted Education on Memory Retention in Elementary School Children: An Exploratory Study

Animal-assisted education (AAE) can provide an exciting and innovative alternative to conventional teaching methods. Numerous studies have been published on the influence of the participation of living animals (primarily dogs) in the educational process on students' emotions. However, the impact of on-farm teaching on children's academic knowledge has not received much attention. This study aimed to evaluate whether outdoor learning in the presence of farm animals during animal-oriented lessons impacts knowledge performance and memory retention. The experimental group (n = 71) attended a class at an eco-center farm and directly interacted with farm animals. In contrast, the control group (n = 78) received identical content in a classroom using conventional teaching aids. Knowledge in both groups was compared quantitatively with paper-and-pencil tests in three consecutive examinations: pre-, post-, and follow-up (28 days later). The intergroup results of the pre- and post-examinations showed no difference. However, a significant difference in the intergroup knowledge scores was observed at the one-month follow-up test. The pupils in the experimental group maintained significantly broader knowledge over time than their peers in the control group. These results suggest that implementing AAE into the education process might not affect pupils' immediate knowledge performance, but it could positively impact memory retention. As scientific research on using farm animals in education is scarce, additional research is needed.