Assisted by Kangaroo Island’s District eTeacher Kimberley Wood using a laptop computer, NextG wireless card and a webcam, live image and audio was streamed to a number of participants across the nation.

Mark Sparvell; District eTeacher from Victor Harbor R-7 School, coordinated the two-hour long event from his office in Victor Harbor, while Kimberley along with Tony Bartram, Andrew Neighbour from Kangaroo Island Marine Tours, Richard Howard, with his crayboat and 15 students and teachers, tackled the coasts of Kingscote to locate the dolphins.

At one stage 20 sites across South Australia, Western Australia and Far North Queensland were engaged in this online environment, posing a number of questions to Tony and Dr Mike Bossley AM, Research Scientist from the WDCS in Port Adelaide.

All participants were completely engrossed in the event as we were able to broadcast ‘live’ to classrooms, offices and homes.

More live events are now planned for KI Dolphin Watch to interact with the wider community to help develop knowledge and understanding of Kangaroo Island’s wild dolphin population and their habitats.

Exciting developments being trialed as components of dolphin monitoring field trips, in preparation for future events, include imagery from an underwater webcam and dolphin sounds via a hydrophone, which participants everywhere will be able to experience.

A tremendously exciting project which links the students of Kangaroo Island with the outside world and highlights their brilliant conservation efforts globally, through the use of cutting edge technologies.

Thank you to KI Marine Tours, The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, Richard, volunteers and especially our students.

Kimberley Wood

eTeacher

Kangaroo Island Community Education