Wolf as a model organism for high school biology instruction

The grey wolf (Canis lupus) is an endangered and protected animal species in Slovenia. The curriculum of the high school program incorporates the topic of acquainting students with the importance of preserving the diversity of organisms and the environment they live in. For this purpose, and as part of the SloWolf project, we prepared teaching materials on the wolf topic, intended to be used as part of the lessons in high schools. Students were asked to participate in a survey which was used to determine how the different approaches to teaching affect the students’ attitudes and their knowledge of wolves. The survey, which was conducted on students of the first, second and third year of high school, revealed no statistically significant differences between the different teaching approaches, whether the experience based teaching method or the classic teaching method was in question. When this charismatic species is included in the biology curriculum, students tend to report a more positive point of view of wolves, as well as a higher degree of knowledge of this topic. The analysis of the results obtained should motivate biology and natural science teachers and professors to incorporate in their lessons also the teaching materials on wolves. The materials were conceived to be used in any phase of the high school education, and by that contribute to the increase in students’ knowledge on wolves, and change their point of view of wolves. In this way teachers and professors can enable students to get to know the Slovenian wolf better, and make them aware of the necessity to protect this animal species.