Kalkie students dive into reef education

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Tilly Walmsley and Christopher Devon-Kontoleon are ready for their virtual dive adventure.
Tilly Walmsley and Christopher Devon-Kontoleon are ready for their virtual dive adventure.

Kalkie State School students will immerse themselves in a virtual dive experience tomorrow as part of their reef education.

To support their science units and the Australian Curriculum’s Sustainability priority, Year 2 Reef Guardian students are taking a virtual dive into the world’s largest living coral reef aquarium.

Teacher Judith Stucthbury said the experience would link students to Reef Head Quarters in Townsville on Friday for World Oceans Day.

“Reef HQ is the national education centre for the Great Barrier Reef and its videoconferencing program is internationally recognised,” Ms Stutchbury said.

Bailey Robb and Ryder Warren prepare for the virtual dive.
Bailey Robb and Ryder Warren prepare for the virtual dive.

“The interactive dive, An Introduction to the GBR, is led by marine biologists Ryan Ramasamy and Craig McGrogan and will take students underwater to learn about what makes up the Great Barrier Reef and how each animal has its role to play in the ecosystem.”

Ms Stutchbury said students would be able to converse with the marine biologists while they’re underwater, creating an amazing learning experience.

“Students are very excited and have been preparing questions for the biologists based on pollution in the ocean, diving gear, coral growth and much more,” she said.

According to Reef HQ, their state-of-the-art technology unlocks unique teaching and learning experiences, including information delivered live by a scuba diver.

Videoconferencing is a tool that enables users to see and hear the person they are communicating with. It is exciting, stimulating, easy to use and a great way to involve students in learning about the Great Barrier Reef.

Reef videoconferencing is very different from other multimedia resources, such as video recordings or television presentations, because they are live and interactive.

Kalkie State School students will participate in the virtual dive tomorrow.

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