Bear of the Month Club - Interactive Learning

MISSOULA, Mont. - Aug. 16, 2013 - PRLog -- Bear of the Month is a collaborative effort between Inspired Classroom, Bear Trust International (http://www.beartrust.org/), Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/) as well as many scientists and conservationists to bring bear education and conservation messages to students all over the world. Each month during the 2013-2014 school year, classrooms can tune in to a live interactive lecture by bear scientists and conservationists from around the world. Through interactive video conferencing, students learn about each of the 8 bear species, their conservation issues, and current field work. Students will meet the bear researchers who will share some of their field work with them. Each month, we will highlight one of the 8 bear species worldwide. Target audience: 3rd grade – lifetime.

This is an unique opportunity for students to engage directly with scientists and conservationists. Five classrooms per bear species will be able to interact live with the presenter and ask questions during the live video conference. These five classrooms are limited to the first five to sign up. We will also have a RSS feed for this event! The RSS feed is available to an unlimited  number of classrooms. Students viewing the RSS feed will be able to participate and ask questions via Twitter @InspiredClasses #8bears.

Bear of the Month Goals: 

1. Help raise conservation awareness about the 8 species of bears worldwide
2. Provide a platform for scientists to reach out to youth
3. Provide an interactive venue for youth to learn about bear conservation from on-the-ground scientists
4. Connect youth worldwide and foster “peer-to-peer” learning

Partners: Bear Trust International (http://beartrust.org/),  Inspired Classroom (http://inspiredclassroom.com/), Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (http://www.alaskawildlife.org/)

What: Bear of the Month Interactive Live Lectures via Video Conferencing

When: September 2013-May 2014 (one lecture monthly, January excluded)

Target Audience: 3rd grade – lifetime.

 

Summary: Each month during the 2013-2014 school year, classrooms can tune in to a live interactive lecture by bear scientists and conservationists from around the world.  Through interactive video conferencing, students learn about each of the 8 bear species, their conservation issues, and current field work.  Students meet the bear researchers who share some of their field work with them. Each month, we will highlight one of the 8 bear species worldwide.

The Lecture: Using video conferencing  equipment, lecturers will give a 20-25 minute “lecture” that introduces the bear species, conservation issues, and field work he/she is doing.  Then, Alli DePuy at Inspired Classroom will facilitate a live question/answer session lasting about 20 minutes.  The five classrooms that are connected to this lecture will have interactive capability. Unlimited additional classrooms can watch and submit questions to Alli prior to the lecture or  online via Twitter @InspiredClasses #8bears.

Fundraising: 25% will be provided to the lecturer’s research study or conservation organization/institution to help pay for bear conservation work.  12.5% will be provided to Bear Trust to support the development of STEM education programs based on wild bear research (provided for free to all educators and youth).  12.5% will be provided to Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center to help defray costs associated with the development of the BEARS (Bears Education Awareness Research Sanctuary).