Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland, a wildlife conservation NGO based in East Meath, has announced a project called Wild Schools which is designed to fill a gap in learning about wildlife at second level.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Ireland (WRI) offers students choice and flexibility in learning, both of which are crucial aspects that can significantly impact the effectiveness and engagement of learners.
Wild Schools represents a culmination of months of development and collaboration among experts in education and design. With a diverse range of tips and activities Wild Schools is designed to educate students about various aspects of wildlife, including species information, habitats, human-wildlife conflict, quizzes, audio visuals and engaging projects to name a few.
Key features of Wild Schools include:
- Interactive Learning: Engage in immersive learning experiences through interactive modules that stimulate curiosity and encourage active participation.
- Personalised Learning Paths: Tailor your learning journey to your unique needs and interests. Set your own pace and project level.
- Peer Collaboration and Community Engagement: Connect with fellow students, educators, and experts from around the area to exchange ideas, collaborate on projects, and build a vibrant learning community.
- Accessible Anytime, Anywhere: Access Wild Schools anytime, anywhere, across multiple devices, ensuring uninterrupted learning experiences that fit seamlessly into your busy lifestyle.
- Available as Gaeilge: This resource is also available in Irish; Scoileanna Fiaine.
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Education volunteer at WRI, Aoife McPartlin, expressed excitement about the resource’s potential to drive a positive change in attitude towards the natural world.
“With so many young people suffering from eco-anxiety, it’s essential to find healthy ways to cope with those feelings and take constructive action” she said.
“Wildlife education plays a crucial role in promoting a sense of responsibility and encouraging actions that contribute to conservation efforts. Joining forces with classmates can provide a sense of solidarity and empowerment, while focusing on solutions and positive actions being taken to address environmental challenges.”
“We believe that by ensuring everyone has access to, and education in the natural world, we can improve mental and physical wellbeing and safeguard the future environment. By learning about the natural world, people are far more likely to take better care of it.”
We’re committed to making high-quality learning experiences accessible to everyone and with our own small team finding it difficult to fulfil all the requests, we designed Wild Schools to enable teachers to engage students in education about our native Irish wildlife, without the need for our presence. We are delighted to embark on this journey of discovery and growth with students from every corner of the country.”
The Wild Schools booklet is now available to download on www.scoilnet.ie
