When the North Star meets the Southern Cross!

Wisteria, our engaging presenter

This morning reminded me how anxious and nervous teachers can get when they face the unknown! Although I have used our polycom videoconferencing equipment extensively with educators, classes and community organisations within Australia, I had never dialled an overseas polycom unit. The IP address had been given to us to dial rather than they dial us! Eek! A practice run was rather difficult due to our time zone differences so at 9am my time this morning, I dialled the number 15 mins before the students were due in for lesson one, having shared Skype contact details should we face technical problems.

Almost immediately, Wisteria answered the call and we were transported into Marriner’s Museum, Virginia, USA, a different day, a different time zone, different hemsipherse, different culture, history and a different accent. Students from year 1/2, year 7 and 9 then enjoyed an engaging and interactive session with Wisteria as she revealed life at sea centuries ago. It was fascinating to hear from someone in our ‘yesterday’, who talked about the Northern Star and their famous explorers eg Christopher Columbus cf Captain Cook for us.

What worked well

a crystal clear videoconference on both sides, with no hint of lag
our microphone that was able to pick up the answers from our students who often spoke quietly and were at the back of the room.
an engaging and interactive presenter, in Wisteria, who varied the session with a mix of using images, objects from the museum, getting the students involved, using the webcam effectively and even sharing a youtube video that did not lag either!
having the broad mix of age groups. The young students added a dynamic, unreserved and spontaneous addition

At the end of the 60 minute session, students were asked to relate three things they learned and one thing they enjoyed. Following are some of the year 7 ICT student comments. Year 1/2 repsonses will be added as soon as they have had their responses go through the editing stage. By the time year 7 related what they learnt and due to most remembering different elements of the presentation, their total compilation almost gives the overall presentation on Life at Sea.

3 things I learnt:

When at sea, they worked for 4 hours and rested 4 hours, about the different parts of ship
What people at sea eat, lots about compasses, learnt all about parts of ship
The youngest pirate executed was 9 years old. Captain Cook was first captain to give his crew fresh vegetables, in their spare time, crew members would carve pics on whale teeth
Only males were allowed to go on a ship, and as young as 6 or 7; they would eat crackers made of flour and water, dominoes were made from parts of whale’s mouth
Children started work at age of 6 and 7 – eg scrub the deck, peel the vegies; because they didn’t eat fresh veg and fruit, they lost their teeth and their skin would change colour; older kids would have to work for hours, $12 per month pay
Pirates take valuable things, you need vitamin C otherwise you get black gums and your teeth will fall out; little boys started work on ships between the age of 6 and 7
Kids went on ships at such young ages; women work on ships disguised as boys; pirates don’t really kill captives unless they have to – put them on an island if they did not comply. Walking the plank was only done once in history. It is not a common practise.
It was night in USA, 7pm, our today was there yesterday; pirates don’t make you walk a plank, only one person was ever made to do that; Time differences, didn’t know USA were so far away from us,

Showing museum objects

What I liked

Much better learning from someone like Wisteria than through a textbook
How she showed the actual objects
Hearing about the female pirates
All of it was really good – Wysteria was a really good presenter, asked questions and got everyone involved.
Different time and it was interesting to know that she was in my yesterday and there was a night time concert outside while she spoke to us.
Lady pirate Chin commanded 500 pirate ships, made me interested in old history
The problem with hearing clearly eg the girl was actually a boy who answered a question, misunderstanding accents
Liked how she was actually at the museum, and showed us the actual objects from the ship
To see the things they used – photos and objects