You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
Great info from fantastic experts guiding us through a real conservation/science issue. Fitted perfectly with our term unit on Native Plants and Animals. More from Chris on the VLN.
We are looking at setting up tracking tunnels at school as we prepare for a lizard garden, so to see the kids here doing the same was hugely encouraging. It was great to discuss conservation issues and compare Kepler's challenges with our own.
It linked to our sustainability unit. We liked it because we felt we were there and the scientists connected with us.
Well planned, organised, interesting, and good interactive stuff for the students.
The activities suited cooperative work. The māori perspective was relevant throughout. We loved the vocab lists on each background activity. Again learning in a real context for the children - of all abilities and cultures makes it truly meaningful.
I have a student who cannot read or write yet he was able to watch the videos as part of a whole class activity and orally contribute, just like everyone else. Engagement of the students, they said they did no real work watching the videos and completing the questions independently, however the level of understanding was higher than is typically observed from text based resources.
Resources were very easy to download and adapt for our students with specific needs. Our school had a Maori Community Hui during the trip and feedback directly from parents of children in the class was extremely positive. Great to be able to follow from home as well.
Students were able to really get their teeth into this topic. With the local resources also coming to the party it was a great way to learn about our native flora and fauna. Allowed the students to feel like they were actually there on the trip!
Hooked them in from the beginning - ambassadors/videos - high interest activities. Helped the children to focus on our concept of "taonga". Authentic learning that helps all children through the use of various learning styles. Great for helping to differentiate the programme for the wide range of children in my class.
Fits beautifully with our upcoming Term 3 inquiry as to how we can help in our community.
Related it to our small area of bush at school. So far we have set a trap, the same type as was in the video. Special needs loved the video presentations and gained from them.
The field trip was appropriate for my Year 7 class and the Year 10 class we worked with. History, tikanga and Te Reo included in background pages provided relevance to Maori students.
The biggest benefit was being able to relate to it on a personal level and also to be able to follow up on it in our local community.
Used with Year 11 geography. Explained the natural processes well.
The questions were excellent and the short videos really helped to maintain the boys' interest. Because there are visual/ audio resources it meant that the learning was more accessible to everyone.
The students were able to learn a range of new things in relation to Earthquakes. I was impressed with their questions they came up with from the background reading pages. They were very much engaged, especially with the videos and audioconferences. It is a unique way of learning for the students.
The way the scientist answered made the children feel valued and that he was very interested in their ideas.
Such a simple way to support science and social studies in the classroom and audio conferences actively engage students with information.
Provides access to areas that we can not just jump in a van and travel to.
We are inquiring into how natural forces shape the earth so information about earthquakes as a force was very relevant The field trips deepen children's understandings and are a means of the girls making local connections to global situations.
Very helpful for my Overseas and distance students who are studying extreme natural disasters for NCEA level 1. Great videos, pictures and activities.
Linked into our Bounce Back school wide theme. This project was brilliant for exploring how humans adapt to disasters. Awesome way to engage all learners, the activities, audio conferences, video diaries - just excellent!
Very appropriate - local area made it more relevant and has led into our term 2 project. Students were able to look at local and global issues. They used research skills and inquiry processes - specifically relevant as they are well set out for students to follow.
The virtual field trip caters for all types of learning. Students enjoy doing the worksheets and researching them. Information pages are appropriate to their level. Videos are engaging and the questions help direct the students to focus in on the learning.
I love the integrated approach and potential. It is very useful to a small group of diverse ages (Y9-13) and backgrounds because I can always find 'an entry point' for everyone. My students are hospitalised ... the field trips are like a window on the outside world for them.