By Nick Mattera
On a bitter, snowy February day, 24 Lewiston-Porter fifth-graders encountered pythons, gorillas and owls at the Columbus Zoo
All without leaving the cozy confines of the school library.
The latest installment of a year-long distance learning program allowed students to garner a better understanding of animal classification, first-hand, through a live video conference with Columbus Zoo educator Laura Frasher.
The 45-minute program introduced students to “Fluffy” the python, “Hank” the American alligator and “Ruby” the legless lizard among others, all instilling curriculum-based knowledge into the minds of the eager students.
“Fluffy was my favorite,” said 10-year-old Brad Tuck, referring to a 24-foot Burmese python highlighted in the video conference. “It was so cool to see the animals from behind the scenes.”
Tuck could hardly control his excitement while discussing the video chat with classmate, 10-year-old Daryl Anne Wright, something Intermediate School Principal Tamara M. Larson said is the whole idea behind the program.
“This is what we want, we want kids to be engaged and enjoying learning,” she said. “We want students to embrace this program and gain a real understanding of the outside world.”
The program began at Lewiston-Porter in 2001, when the school received a grant allowing it to purchase the cutting-edge polycom unit required for video conferences. The highly developed program at Lew-Port is not only unique to Niagara County, but New York state, as the school sets up more than 40 video conferences a year. Students have had the opportunity to interact with experts from NASA, the Library of Congress, the San Diego Zoo and the Columbus Zoo among others.
Library Media Specialist Mary Ellen Aureli said she arranges the programs and they are designed to coincide with state-mandated curriculum.
“Students are able to learn from experts and see faraway places that they may never have an opportunity to visit,” she said. “They also learn important communication skills during the interaction.
Kelly Block, a fifth grade teacher at the school, said the program has become a way for students to learn, while having fun.
“Kids at this age aren’t often intrigued with book work and readings,” Block said. “This is a way to get them out of the classroom, even for a little while and have fun, but still learn.”
During Thursday’s program, the students were taught how to remember animal classification through a series of exercises and interactive group work. It paired students together in small groups and collectively came up with the right answer, all while their work was checked by a zoo educator from hundreds of miles away.
Wrightone of the students, said the program has given her an insider’s view of the jobs that are available and has made her realize she wants to work with animals one day.
“I want to be a marine biologist or work at a zoo with elephants one day,” said Wright who has participated in video conferences at the San Diego Zoo, an Elephant Sanctuary and Columbus Zoo through the program. “I love seeing all the animals and want to work with them some day.”
Fellow student Tuck agreed, saying the program has fueled his love of science and has been a way to see things most students wouldn’t have a chance to see.
“It has made me more interested in science,” Tuck said. “After seeing these people it makes me want to learn more about them and it’s just cool to see.
The school has also used its technology in a partnership with a non-for profit organization “Freedom Calls”, which is designed to help connect local families to their loved ones stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Families who are interested in scheduling a virtual visit can contact the intermediate library at 754-8281 ext. 3220.
