Trangie Central School has been selected as one of the first school’s outside the United States to take part in an international research program run at the University of Arizona.
The Biosphere 2 experiment involves research into climate change and the ability of TCS students to engage professionals on the other side of the world, via video conferencing, is the real education revolution, according to Trangie science teacher Annette Nicholls.
Mrs Nicholls, who runs online interactive science programs at TCS, said the brave new world of technology was reshaping the very meaning of isolation and distance education.
Mrs Nicholls said “connected classrooms” were fast becoming the rule rather than the exception and it was “obviously the way it’s going to go.”
“It means access to professionals in all sorts of fields that can deliver conferencing to us all whether it be teachers, professionals or students,” she said.
The project brings the “highest level of expertise” to students no matter where they are. Previously schools would need a significant number of students wanting to study a subject before it could be taught but video-conferencing technology and the cooperation of educational institutions mean rigid syllabuses are things of the past.
TCS and Dubbo Public School students conducting Biosphere 2 experiments report their findings to Juan Camilo Villegan from the university’s School of Natural Resources.
Communication will be done via video links run by Dubbo-based provider, Aloha Audio Visual Installations to the university’s Biosphere Two facility near Tuscon Arizona.
Matt Adamson from Biosphere 2 said the goals of the program were to support science, technology, engineering and mathematics by “bringing the current, cutting-edge science research being done here into the classroom.”
“We are so excited to be piloting this activity with school children in Dubbo and Trangie,” he said.
“The notion of delivering content halfway around the world allows us to ‘walk the walk’ when it comes to utilising technology to improve education.
“(The technology) allow our scientists to interact with kids who may never visit the US much less come to Biosphere.”
Mr Adamson said Biosphere 2 had particular relevance for Australians because Arizona shared many climatic similarities including drought, water use issues and fire with regional Australia.
“Ultimately we hope to inspire young people around the world to be excited about science since they’ll be the ones solving many of the problems we face today,” he said.
Andrew Foley from Aloha travelled from Dubbo to Arizona to set up the video link.
The Aloha team has been busy setting up educational contacts in the US and earlier this year beamed a simulated rocket launch from Arizona into Narromine via the same technology.
“It is an international first and I am really excited that regional schools such as DPS and TCS are not only the first to have a go at this experiment but that their results will mean something to the overall findings.”
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