Connecting Classrooms for Sustainability: Video conference festivals and virtual lessons that complement fieldwork
In this session Field of Mars EEC will present several models of collaborative Video Conferencing and web based sharing that have been introduced and evaluated in 2010-11:
- The “Learning for Sustainability VC festival” in which over 25 VC’s ran over a week in 2010.
Over 6300 students were part of VC’s in a variety of formats, including project based connected classroom discussion amongst students, collaborative sessions with expert presenters and more.
The 2010 festival was a pilot event that was subject to a thorough evaluation which has informed the design of the 2011 festival which happens on the week of June 6-10.
- Pre- and post- investigation VC sessions with external experts, supported by common web based and server streamed resources, such as the “Virtual Invertebrates” outreach program that assists schools conducting Biotic surveys of their own local area.
- Regular informal “Green room” VC’s for teachers and students used to share ideas, methods and best practice in grass-roots environmental and sustainability education.
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Patrick Spiers' Biography
Patrick Spiers is a teacher of 10 years experience.He began his career in education in Regional and rural Australia as a high school Science teacher, before moving into the field of Education for Sustainability.
He is the Teacher/relieving Principal at Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre in Sydney which is operated by the NSW Department of Education and Communities to help students and teachers with Fieldwork, Environmental education and Education for sustainability.
Since 2009 Patrick and colleague Steven Papp have developed, trialled, delivered and evaluated many different modes of Video conferencing experiences for students all over NSW, including curriculum embedded VCs that facilitated collaborative conversations between student presenters and VC’s that complemented students own planning and delivery of actions for sustainability. |
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Steven Papp's Biography
Steve Papp has over 20years of experience working with students in classrooms, in outdoor environments and recently in virtual lessons. He began his career in education teaching in the Western Suburbs of Sydney. During this time he discovered the power of environmental and sustainability education to engage students in authentic and hands on learning. These experiences brought him into a career in Environmental Education at the Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre. Over the past few years he has led the centre in exploring ways of delivering quality environmental and sustainability education using video conferencing and other collaborative tools. In the last two years this has resulted in over 17000 teachers and students participating the Learning for Sustainability Video Conference Festival. |
