Saturday, January 12, 2013

Learning from the distance: Young UK- Arctic explorer answered questions from German 8th- grade students


These eco- systems are the most sensitive when you search for the first hints of climate change. Scientists from many countries are working in the Arctic and Antarctic reagion to explore animals and their behaviour. In the Arctic they are additionally interested in peoples' lifes and their cultural traditions.  
What is the main difference between the Arctic and Antarctic region? What do scientists do to explore the Arctic region? What material do you carry to the Arctic to do your explorations? Do animals and people live there?

These are only a few questions my 8th graders could ask 19 years old Oliver Milroy from the Plymstock School in Devon who is working at the education department of the ETE. The “Education through Expeditions” (ETE) project belongs to the University of Plymouth.  During the Skype meeting straight after the session with Mrs Pennycook they got a view into the exploring work of this UK scientist team. He is the youngest member of the UK Arctic exploration team.
Thanks to Oli Milroy doing a wonderful job this morning.


Finally the students learned a lot about the Arctic and Antarctic area, differences and similarities, how the climate change impacts these sensitive eco- systems. Next to this they now know what it means to be a natural scientist and how their work looks like.

3 comments:

  1. You are going in to uncharted Skype territory...The Arctic! Congratulations!

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  2. What an amazing experience! I'm sure your students will always remember it.

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  3. That was such an inspiring activity for them. I have tried german learning skype at http://preply.com/en/german-by-skype so I can relate a bit to them but I think your students are luckier than me.

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