Tag: digital outreach

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Slime Day Video Conference

We encounter Slime in our environment everyday. Some animals use slime for movement, others for protection, to catch food and to keep their skin hydrated. You will be amazed about the variety of animals that need slime to survive. We all know about snails and slugs, but have you heard of slime moulds?

Slime Mould

 

Have a look at the Hagfish one of the slimiest animals of the all

We are running video conferences for schools for Slime Day on April 9 2013. Join the Australian Museum to explore slime made by animals. You could try some kitchen chemistry to find out how you can make slime. Join Fizzics Education as they investigate the chemical properties of different slime. You can also take a journey into our waterways with Professor Pufferfish to explore the role we play in the future sustainability of marine environment in Slime doesn’t pay!

What are you going to do for Slime Day on April 9 2013?

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Clickfest video conferencing 2012

Clickfest is an exciting initiative from education organisations across Australia. It highlights the diversity and scope of video conferences available to schools across Australia.

Now in its second year, over 20 organisations are delivering free or reduced cost events to schools from Monday 5 – Friday 30 November. Each day multiple sessions will be available on a variety of topics from content providers including:

  • Australian Ages of Dinosaurs
  • Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
  • Australian Museum
  • CAASTRO
  • Fizzics Education
  • Literature Live
  • Powerhouse Museum
  • State Library of NSW
  • Taronga Zoo, Sydney

These sessions are being hosted by the Distance and Rural Technologies (DART).  DART connections help us by providing a booking system, technical support and marketing to teachers. They make running an event like Clickfest much easier.

Indigenous Art video conferencing at the Australian Museum

Video conferencing provides a great opportunity for schools to participate in special events and programs without leaving the classroom. Distance is no longer an obstacle.

 

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Dinosaur Day video conferencing

Dinosaur Day on Monday 5 November 2012 was a great way to start the Clickfest video conferencing month. Thousands of students dialled into a series of video conferences from across NSW. Dinosaur day had events from:

  • Australian Museum
  • Australian Fossil and Mineral Museum
  • Australian Ages of Dinosaurs
  • Taronga Zoo, Sydney
  • Literature Live

 

winny roar                                  © Australian Museum

The Australian Museum launched Dinosaur Day with Winny the Muttabuttasaurus. We had 20 school link up to celebrate and learn about dinosaurs.  It was a really great atmosphere to have so many students calling out Winny’s name and interacting with her.

Clickfest is an exciting initiative from education organisations across Australia and it highlights the diversity and scope of video conferences available to schools across.

Now in its second year, over 20 organisations are delivering free or reduced cost events to schools. These sessions are being hosted by the Distance and Rural Technologies (DART).

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Clickfest 2011

In November this year, DART Connections is hosting ‘Clickfest’: a month of free video conferencing to encourage more teachers to give it a go.

Clickfest #1Michael Hugill   © Australian Museum

The Clickfest launch at the Australian Museum was a first for new technology that provides educational experiences to regional schools. The live, interactive video conference session was simultaneously attended by regional schools located throughout Australia, including those first connected to the National Broadband Network (NBN).

The participating year five and six children from these schools loved the show, featuring Winny the dinosaur from the Australian Museum, Cogs the Robot from the Powerhouse Museum and Tasmanian Devil researcher Dr Kathy Belov. Each school got to ask several questions and play an important part in the excitement of this event.

Chris Hancock, CEO of AARNet said, “This is an excellent example of how high capacity broadband services can revolutionise the learning experience. Clickfest will connect students in regional communities to iconic Australian institutions as part of their daily classroom activities. The regular use of real time video collaboration on this scale is the bright future of school education, enabling students to learn from Australia’s top talent without leaving the classroom.”

The schools included were:

  • Presbyterian Ladies College (Armidale, NSW)
  • The Cathedral School (Townsville, QLD)
  • Willunga High School (SA)
  • Circular Head Christian School (Smithtown, TAS)
  • Bees Creek Primary School (NT).

We’re excited to be participating in the Clickfest Video Conferencing Festival with over 30 other organisation offering free video conferences for schools.

Check out the new and exciting shows and events, all provided at no charge thanks to the NSW State Government. To find out more or to book into a session, go to DARTconnections and have a look at the amazing events on offer

It is a really exciting initiative to get teachers and students to give video conferencing a go.