You can contact LEARNZ, part of CORE Education, at:
Postal Address:
PO Box 13 678,
Christchurch 8141,
New Zealand
It linked in to our syndicate camp in the Tangihuas by Whangarei. It backed up our teaching points on why we need to monitor wildlife and trap introduced pets.
It fitted in with our next unit "Living Landscapes" and my students' interets in NZ spiders. It was my first time doing a live web conference and my class and I found it to be enjoyable, especially hearing from the experts, and they learned about the etiquette of that situation.
Great way to extend learners in science and mathematics. Adjustable for Years 1-6. Lots of Key Competencies.
The learners were excited by the theme of the trip and carried out their own BioBlitz as a result. LEARNZ provides great resources and exciting opportunities for our learners to hear from experts in the field and to see practical applications for their learning.
The Bioblitz field trip allowed our tamariki to further explore their learning context (insects) and to add to their understanding of an area of the science curriculum. The format of the field trip meant that what the children had already learned was given relevance and promoted further inquiry, conversations, excitement and engagement in this context.
We have been focussing on collaboration so students used this unit to work together to find information and monitor their own learning. It was easy for the children to navigate and use the website independently.
The BioBlitz trip was an excellent activity in terms of supporting NZ Curriculum objectives in Science and Ecology for Levels 3 and 4. Science is a way of explaining the world and scientists work together to support their ideas. Ecology - students can see how organisms are adapted to their environment.
It followed on very well from the inquiry we have been doing into the plants in our local native bush. The most noticeable impact was a increase in our classes' scientific vocab. Great opportunity to communicate and collaborate with others outside of our school.
It was really appropriate as we learnt how to do a Bio Blitz in our own backyard - which we did! Helped us in the key Learning Area of Science - provided extra information, motivation and a wider NZ focus on the environment. Also added to the kete of useful add-ons to make my teaching better.
The experience has provided me with another tool to help teach my students and provide them with another learning tool to learn. Students are beginning to thinking more critically about the world we live in and how it all works. Seeing themselves on screen talking to experts and listening to other schools ask questions, that were answered, was very helpful.
The resources and information from this field trip are going to continue to be useful for the rest of this term. The connections that are made for our students to see others involved and other parts of our country/world are fantastic.
From the NZC, all Principles, Values covered in the programme, Key Competencies all used to reinforce learning; Science - natural hazards - future focus.
It got the children thinking about volcanoes and earthquakes in NZ. Clear topics and answers were in kid talk.
We absolutely loved this Iceland field trip and got so much out of it, that it took over a very intense 3 weeks of our learning. The content was so well pitched that all our children from year 1-8 could understand and learn from it.
It was effective and was presented in such a way that it was really enjoyable, and the learning appropriate. LEARNZ trips give a great insight into the world and allow us to see and learn things we otherwise would not. Great learning tool - making learning real.
It has been fantastic for children to speak with experts. Sending our ambassador this time just made it all so real. Such an excellent teaching resource. Nothing like it anywhere else.
The field trip gave my students a good hook into volcanoes and natural hazards. It supported the science learning area well. Watching the scientist's plane trip sparked my kids curiousity, as did the trip up the volcano.
Supported collaboration, inquiry, and taught specific knowledge about the subject.
It was at a perfect level for Level 3 to 4 of the Curriculum with extension opportunities. We participated live in one web conference but being able to replay all the web conferences was awesome! Took away the need for all the paperwork now needed for any outdoor education trip!
It was really engaging and held the students' interest. The online support was fabulous, as there was a lot of support and different material and ideas.
Absolutely ideal for my year level 3 & 4.
I loved that the children were involved in creating the content by writing the questions for Ben and Shelley. Matched our inquiry concept of "Change" perfectly. Encouraged lots of 21st century skills and great learning.
Linked well into our unit on puia and maunga, with good information in the background pages and activities. Dipping into videos was useful. Fitted well with our unit, which is assessing Earth Systems at Level 4/5 of the NZC. It also allowed for participation and contribution for both the KCs and the NoS branch of Pūtaiao.
The kids actioning the Key Competencies through a field trip was new and interesting for them.
Great for student centred learning, Māori content and access to experts. Always a range of technical terms and information that can be adapted to suit my Y12 Geo class.