Our school set up a webcam for 3 weeks during the hatch and early stages of growth of Pheasants. This was done in conjunction with a project of the Outdoor Education Department's Wild Outdoor Research Team which is a group of 16 students from 9 different schools. The webcam provided all the students in W.O.R.T. as well as other students in our school system, the opportunity to follow the pheasant hatch and keep an eye on the developing chicks. The W.O.R.T. students were excited to be sharing their little "window of the world" with others outside our school by way of the webcam. It also provided a fabulous opportunity for classes to follow the events and discuss them in class, yet not have the responsibility of the hatch.
The students found it exciting to actually watch something that was taking place. They made frequent trips to the science room window as well but having the computer in the classroom where the students kept a constant eye on changes throughout the day was an additional benefit. The students took more interest than they would have if they only saw the chicks once or twice a day. For students who were not at our school, teachers reported curiosity and keen interest in the project. Still photos on the web site explaining the set up of the camera and showing the incubator helped give students outside of our school a better idea of what they were viewing.
After
viewing the PheasantCam, a teacher
from another school was excited about the possibility of a webcam with a
science unit which focuses on the life stages of the butterfly. She hatches
butterfly larva and releases them in the spring. Another wanted to set up
a webcam to track the pattern of the moon and stars in the night sky.
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The
possibilities are endless!
The opportunities for student learning, exciting! |
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 MultiMedia:
An InDepth Guide for Teachers
Copyright 2002 Regina Public Schools and Saskatchewan Learning |
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