Scientists in Action: Visualizing Animal Acoustics 

Article courtesy of Tech Integration Specialist Tim Mangiaracina:

Seventh Grade Science teacher, Pace Abrams took his entire team of teachers and students to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science virtually with the help of Kate Neff, the Virtual Programs Coordinator for the museum. The five classes each watched the action on their smartboards, and one of the five classrooms was designated the room for all the interactions with Kate and her colleagues via Zoom. Students were escorted to the room when they wished to ask a question during the question-and-answer period.  

The program is called Scientists in Action: Visualizing Animal Acoustics. Here is their description of the trip:  

Have you ever wondered what bats say to one another? How listening to bird songs can tell us the health of an ecosystem? In this exciting visit to Bluff Lake Nature Center, a natural space tucked quietly in the bustle of Denver, we take a listen…but not using our ears. Scientists studying the fauna of this local lake use technology to not only listen in on Chiropteran conversations or Avian acapellas but create visual representations of what animals are saying. Combining ecology and technology, this trip shows us just how wild the world may be in our very own backyard.

The Museum sent activities for before the trip to build anticipation in the teachers and students, during the trip and extension activities for afterwards.  

Scientists in Action is a monthly broadcast series that connects learners everywhere with real scientists where they work, and is driven by audience Q&A. Each event is a live, two-way interactive webcast with multiple schools, organizations, homeschools, pods, and families participating. For information or a partner to assist setting something like this up please reach out today.”