DART Connections. Bringing faces and places together. NSW Government. Department of Education and Communities. DART Connections Virtual Excursions.

Welcome to our site

Connections is a project of the New South Wales Department of Education and Communities (NSW DEC) unit - Distance And Rural Technologies (DART).  Connections provides and co-ordinates video conferencing excursions for DEC schools, TAFEs and non NSW DEC schools. Connections video conferencing excursions bring students and teachers face to face with experts across the globe. Our excursions are designed to enrich and supplement curriculum across all stages and key learning areas.


Upcoming Excursions

Animals of the Dreaming with Col Hardy, Taronga Zoo

This entertaining presentation is delivered by the highly respected Aboriginal Elder, Col Hardy and a Zoo Education Officer. Col is a well-known country singer and was the first Aboriginal person to win a Golden Guitar at the Australasian Country Music Awards in Tamworth.
In 2007 he was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia “for service to the country music industry as a singer and recording artist, and to the community through the delivery of outreach zoological education programs in regional areas”.
Col uses music to sing and talk about Dreaming Stories, immersing them in Aboriginal storytelling, while creating an awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal culture and its links to the land and animals.
During Reconciliation Week Col will only be conducting two Video Conferences. Please book early to avoid disappointment.
Animals of the Dreaming achieves curriculum outcomes from the Aboriginal Perspectives links, HSIE and Aboriginal Studies year 7-10 syllabus.

28 May 2013
Australian Giants from the Past

Giant animals from dinosaurs to megafauna have roamed the Australian continent at different times. Find out about some of these Australian giants. Look at fossils and learn what they tell us about these extraordinary animals. Life sized reproductions and models will help us visualise life in the past.

Meet some of Australia’s ancient animals including our biggest and our most vicious predator. Discover how Palaeontologists study fossils and compare them with some living relatives.

The Video conference will look at ancient animals and how palaeontologists learn more about them. There will also be information on the different theories of extinction.


11 March 2013
BOOKS @ TARONGA - BATS & NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Taronga Zoo and Literature Live! have joined forces to present exciting, educational workshops that combine two great Australian loves: animals and books.

These unique sessions are designed to excite and inspire children about the wide range of Aussie animals we have, about the environment and protection of species, and about reading books and learning.

All sessions will be held at Taronga Zoo (Sydney) and will feature Aleesah Darlison, children’s author, and a Zoo Educator, PLUS some very special live animal guests!

Aleesah Darlison talks about the inspiration behind her picture book, Warambi, whose main character is a Little Bent-wing bat who loses her home and her family and sets up a roost in an unusual place. Aleesah also shows incredible photos and video footage of bats and reads Warambi.

The Zoo Educator will teach students all about bats, what they eat, where they live and how we can protect them. They introduce some of the animals from Aleesah’s book as well as other nocturnal creatures by bringing real live animals into the VC for children to view up close.

Questions will be allowed throughout this interactive presentation. Prior to the excursion, BAT PACKS will be sent to schools including Teacher’s Resources and Book Order Forms. A fun, educational and curriculum-focused National Year of Reading session for Kinder to Year 4 – not to be missed! View the Warambi book trailer at: http://bit.ly/eRyGwC.

2 April 2013
BOOKS @ TARONGA - BATS & NOCTURNAL ANIMALS

Taronga Zoo and Literature Live! have joined forces to present exciting, educational workshops that combine two great Australian loves: animals and books.

These unique sessions are designed to excite and inspire children about the wide range of Aussie animals we have, about the environment and protection of species, and about reading books and learning.

All sessions will be held at Taronga Zoo (Sydney) and will feature Aleesah Darlison, children’s author, and a Zoo Educator, PLUS some very special live animal guests!

Aleesah Darlison talks about the inspiration behind her picture book, Warambi, whose main character is a Little Bent-wing bat who loses her home and her family and sets up a roost in an unusual place. Aleesah also shows incredible photos and video footage of bats and reads Warambi.

The Zoo Educator will teach students all about bats, what they eat, where they live and how we can protect them. They introduce some of the animals from Aleesah’s book as well as other nocturnal creatures by bringing real live animals into the VC for children to view up close.

Questions will be allowed throughout this interactive presentation. Prior to the excursion, BAT PACKS will be sent to schools including Teacher’s Resources and Book Order Forms. A fun, educational and curriculum-focused National Year of Reading session for Kinder to Year 4 – not to be missed! View the Warambi book trailer at: http://bit.ly/eRyGwC.

6 March 2013
BOOKS @ TARONGA - ECHIDNAS & AUSSIE ANIMALS - 11am

Taronga Zoo and Literature Live! have joined forces to present exciting, educational workshops that combine two great Australian loves: animals and books.

These unique sessions are designed to excite and inspire children about the wide range of Aussie animals we have, about the environment and protection of species, and about reading books and learning.

All sessions will be held at Taronga Zoo (Sydney) and will feature Aleesah Darlison, children’s author, and a Zoo Educator, PLUS some very special live animal guests!

Aleesah will talk about her childhood growing up in the country where she learned to love animals. She will also reveal the inspiration behind her book, Puggle’s Problem, a story about a baby echidna. Aleesah will show amazing puggle video footage and read Puggle’s Problem.

The Zoo Education Officer will introduce some amazing live Australian animals. Students will have time to interact and ask questions throughout. These workshops foster education and a love of animals and books and are perfectly suited to the Curriculum.

Prior to the excursion, PUGGLE PACKS will be sent to schools which include worksheets and book order forms.

27 May 2013
BOOKS @ TARONGA - ECHIDNAS & AUSSIE ANIMALS

Taronga Zoo and Literature Live! have joined forces to present exciting, educational workshops that combine two great Australian loves: animals and books.

These unique sessions are designed to excite and inspire children about the wide range of Aussie animals we have, about the environment and protection of species, and about reading books and learning.

All sessions will be held at Taronga Zoo (Sydney) and will feature Aleesah Darlison, children’s author, and a Zoo Educator, PLUS some very special live animal guests!

Aleesah will talk about her childhood growing up in the country where she learned to love animals. She will also reveal the inspiration behind her book, Puggle’s Problem, a story about a baby echidna. Aleesah will show amazing puggle video footage and read Puggle’s Problem.

The Zoo Education Officer will introduce some amazing live Australian animals. Students will have time to interact and ask questions throughout. These workshops foster education and a love of animals and books and are perfectly suited to the Curriculum.

Prior to the excursion, PUGGLE PACKS will be sent to schools which include worksheets and book order forms.

6 March 2013
BOUNCE INTO blogED! FREE TRIAL. Safe Blogging, copyright issues and uploading photos on your very own blog designed by Red Hill EEC.

An introduction to blogED for students and teachers. BlogED is run through DET and can only be accessed by the students in your class. To ensure internet safety, the teacher approves all blog posts before they are posted live on the website.
Children will learn about internet safety and are helped to set up their own “safe” individual blog accounts.
Using images provided, the children will learn how to post a photo on blogED.
An example of reducing an image size for use on the internet (Blog/email) will be demonstrated.
Issues surrounding Copyright and the internet will be explained.
BloggEd can be used in conjunction with all Red Hill EEC, “Show Me your Planet” VC’s.

Outcomes:
Science and Technology Australian Syllabus:
STe-1VA, ST1-1VA, ST2-1VA, ST3-1VA
Stage 2: ST2-5WT,ST2-15I
Stage 3: ST3-5WT, ST3-15I

Science & Technology NSW Syllabus:
INV S3.7, VA1, VA2, VA3

English Australian Curriculum
Information and communication technology capability
Stage 2: EN2-4A, EN2-7B, EN2-9B, EN2-12E.
Stage 3: EN3-3A, EN3-6B, EN3-9E

NSW English Syllabus:
WS2.12, WS3.12

13 May 2013
Brain Awareness Week - Head injuries in sport, at work and on the road

Using case studies and museum specimens, Prof Lynne Bilston will describe what happens to the brain during a head injury, especially in vehicle accidents. She explains how different safety mechanisms, such as hard hats, safety helmets and head gear can protect the brain from injury in an accident.

15 March 2013
Brain Awareness Week - Headstrong: Mental health, mood disorders and depression

In a collaboration with the Museum of Human Disease, The Black Dog Institute presents it's Headstrong program via video conference. Using a series of engaging and humorous images, topics covered in this presentation include: challenges young people face, mood disorder facts and statistics, types of mood disorders, personality styles associated with non-melancholic depression, dispelling help-seeking fears, finding the right help – who / what / how including the benefits of good therapy and a good support network, and resilience and how it can be built.

15 March 2013
Digital Habitats 1.30 - 2.30pm

In this lesson students will learn about a variety of Australian Environments and the plants and animals that live there. They will also explore the ingredients required to create habitats and increase biodiversity in their school grounds.

Students will use the interactive whiteboard to construct a virtual habitat for native animals using flowering plants, grasses, ground covers, rocks, logs, etc.

To conclude students will plant native grass seeds in pots. These can be used as the basis for a re-vegetation project at school.

This lesson can be incorporated into any study of biodiversity and habitats. It can also be used as a planning session to guide construction of native gardens in school grounds.

10 May 2013
FREE Likely Connections to Lively Collections - Stage 3 Session 1 of 2

Join Libby Hathorn, author, poet and educator, direct from the State Library of NSW for this free writing masterclass with a difference.

Libby will showcase items from the Library collection and reveal their connection to much loved Australian poems drawn from her recent compilation 'The ABC Book of Australian Poetry' (ABC Book, 2010). Libby will then lead your students in a step by step process, 'The Hathorn Technique' (see article in Scan, Connected Classroom 2012) to create their own poetry.

This masterclass is a series of two video conferences held one week apart, and offers a wonderful opportunity for students to engage with an expert for deeper enjoyment of the art of poetry as well as developing the skills and techniques to write their own engaging, original poetry. You will need to book separately for the session on 13 March as well as this one.

6 March 2013
FREE Recorder blow-in for NSW DEC teachers

This is a 45-minute group lesson for DEC teachers and other adults (e.g. retired teachers and outside tutors taking recorder ensembles in NSW schools) funded by Sydney Region. Join us in person at Kegworth Public School (Leichhardt) or via your school's connected classroom. Sessions happen every Thursday 3.45-4.30 and are suitable for players of all standards.

02 May 2013
Geology Rocks

The Video conference will look at the dynamic earth forming processes. There will be explosive experiments demonstrated including the step by step exploration of the different phases of a volcanic eruption. You will also see Australian Museum specimens and there will be opportunities to ask questions, so have some ready.

Students will learn about the layering of lava flows, see if rocks float and learn how to make a gas and find out about the rock cycle. Students will see a volcano erupt and have the opportunity to construct then explode one in their own classroom. The lesson will also show Australian Museum specimens and involve question and answer opportunities.


20 March 2013
Geology Rocks

The Video conference will look at the dynamic earth forming processes. There will be explosive experiments demonstrated including the step by step exploration of the different phases of a volcanic eruption. You will also see Australian Museum specimens and there will be opportunities to ask questions, so have some ready. Students will learn about the layering of lava flows, see if rocks float and learn how to make a gas and find out about the rock cycle. Students will see a volcano erupt and have the opportunity to construct then explode one in their own classroom. The lesson will also show Australian Museum specimens and involve question and answer opportunities.

3 April 2013
Geology Rocks

The Video conference will look at the dynamic earth forming processes. There will be explosive experiments demonstrated including the step by step exploration of the different phases of a volcanic eruption. You will also see Australian Museum specimens and there will be opportunities to ask questions, so have some ready.

Students will learn about the layering of lava flows, see if rocks float and learn how to make a gas and find out about the rock cycle. Students will see a volcano erupt and have the opportunity to construct then explode one in their own classroom. The lesson will also show Australian Museum specimens and involve question and answer opportunities.


6 March 2013
View All

Login to DART Connections

New to DART Connections? Click here to register.

Login to DART Connections

Login to DART Connections


Please wait while we process your request.