F R O N T P A G E
SNDLC Short Takes
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National Park Sites Get Ready to Go Live: Several National Parks are ready to join SNDLC as educational partners
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Henry Doorly Zoo Visits Meridian Elementary: Do bats eat worms?
5th-graders at Meridian use distance learning to find out! Full Story...
Rolling Out the New Media Carts: Do you want to visit with Park Rangers or Zoo Keepers, but don’t have the time or the funds to take a field trip? Full Story...
Two-for-One Deal : The same technology agreement that brings you the new media cart is also your chance to get another IP phone!
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Dear Daisy... Questions & Practical Answers for Distance Learning Users
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Spotlight on an SNDLC Distance Learning Instructor: The first year of teaching via DL can be both challenging and exciting! Full Story...
Quips & Tips, Quotes
& Links: A Grab-Bag Collection of Distance Learning Goodies
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HENRY DOORLY ZOO VISITS MERIDIAN ELEMENTARY
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Natalie Meyer, 5th-grade teacher at Meridian Public Schools, invited the Henry Doorly Zoo to come visit her students, and to bring their Bat Cave along!
It was Halloween, and the fifth-graders were studying bats and caves. In the past, Mrs. Meyer had capped off this particular lesson with a classroom activity using live bats. The "live bat" activity is no longer possible, and Natalie Meyer began to search for a way to cap off the "Bats & Caves" unit with an activity that would intrigue students and be a valuable enrichment activity. Distance Learning provided the answer!
Q: How difficult was it to set this activity up?
Setting up the equipment was not difficult; we used the Distance Learning Media Cart. The Henry Doorly Zoo initiated the session, so we just had to be there and make sure the equipment was turned on.
The most difficult part of the process was figuring out the scheduling. Because the Zoo handles many requests for Distance Learning enrichment activities, you have to plan your connection at least 2 to 3 weeks in advance.
Q: How much preparation did you do prior to the actual session with the Zoo?
Since it had been Halloween when the students studied bats and caves, we reviewed the material and I had the student complete selected online activities. After the review session, my students prepared questions to ask during the session with the Henry Doorly Zoo. The students also asked many questions resulting from the presentation itself.
Q: What was the students’ reaction to the enrichment activity?
The students thoroughly enjoyed the activity with the Zoo at the Bat Caves!
The zoo keepers prepared hands-on activities with the bats to show the students. One of the activities involved feeding the bats worms, so my students were able to see and hear the bats eat. The interaction between the zoo keepers and my students was great. The Zoo instructors were very well-prepared, and they had a great presentation!
Q: Would you be interested in arranging another Distance Learning enrichment activity for your students, either with the Zoo or with another Educational Partner?
Yes, definitely! The students thought the Zoo Bat activity was "really cool!" I plan to use the DL system in the future with the Henry Doorly Zoo again, and also with other educational partners for enrichment activities and classroom activities. I'd also like to take incorporate some of these distance learning enrichment activities into an after-school program.
SNDLC would like to thank Natalie Meyer for sharing her Distance Learning experience with us!
If you are interested in arranging an enrichment activity for your classroom, please refer to the SNDLC Educational Partner page for contact information.
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