The Woodside 2007 Teach Live Program- Whale sharks of Ningaloo Reef

In 2004 Earthwatch launched the pilot Teach Live program and sent four Victorian teachers on Earthwatch Projects across Australia.

In August 2005, through the generous support of Woodside Energy Ltd, the Woodside Teach Live program expanded to allow seven primary and secondary teachers from northern Western Australia to join the South Australian Echidnas and Goannas of Kangaroo Island research expedition for five days. Working as a team they communicated via web technology, live chat forums to Teach Live back to their school classrooms. This was an exciting project for both the students and teachers and demonstrated the possibilities of bringing science using web computer technology directly into remote classroom learning.

This year once again through the generous ongoing support of the Teach Live program by Woodside Energy Ltd, the Woodside Teach Live program moves to Western Australia allowing four teachers from northern Western Australia to join the Whale Sharks of Ningaloo Reef off Exmouth. This project uses web technology to Teach Live back into their classrooms.

The teachers are:

Team One: 14 to 21 May

• Mark Sherwin, Exmouth District High School, Exmouth WA
• Cathryn Samarco, Karratha Senior High School, Karratha WA
• Jane Ganfield, Dongara District High School, Dongara WA
• Kim Le Cras, Tom Price Senior High School, Tom Price WA

Team Two: 2 to 9 June

• Natalie Tempone, Tom Price Senior High School
• David Buys, Rockingham Senior High School
• Graeme Lauritsen, Rockingham Senior High School
• Daphne Williams, Safety Bay Senior High School

These teachers will spend one week at Ningaloo Reef with Earthwatch scientist Brad Norman swimming with the world's largest fish to learn how to sustain their dwindled population. Whale sharks are the largest living fish on Earth. Ningaloo Reef is Australia's longest fringing reef, stretching over nearly 300 kilometers and providing habitat for abundant sea life, including whale sharks. The teachers will work together to bring the experience to their students via the web by posting photos, highlights and lesson plans. They will also participate in forums with their students from all the schools involved, learning not only about whalesharks amd marine biology and its remarkable marine environment, but also about each other.

Woodside Teach Live was developed to give teachers an opportunity to gain practical, hands on scientific research skills whilst their students experience a ‘virtual’ expedition via the web. The interactive nature of the program is an excellent opportunity for teachers to improve their web-based teaching skills and a great introduction to the way innovative technologies can motivate students. Students get to experience what is involved in scientific research resulting in increased curiosity and enthusiasm for science. It is also gives students, who may not otherwise have the opportunity, the chance to see areas of Australia they have never seen before and a new side to their teachers.

The Woodside Teach Live team is updating the Teach Live website everyday via computers, using a Content Management System that has been sponsored by designIT.