2023 was another huge year for ForestLearning – FWPA’s suite of curriculum-aligned teaching resources designed to educate Australia’s schoolchildren about the sustainable world of forestry and wood products.
From the release of new and highly innovative resources to award wins, the incorporation of the latest technologies such as virtual reality (VR) and drones, the concept of agroforestry, glowing testimonials from the kids themselves, and much more.
In case you missed it, our special two-part edition of the WoodChat podcast series is well worth a listen via this link.
Hear from the brains behind the resources including ForestLearning Program Manager Beth Welden, who discusses the initiative’s most recent achievements, including a series of wins in recognition of the quality, innovation, and usefulness of its resources at the Australian Geography Teacher’s Association (AGTA) biannual awards.
Beth is joined by an array of people who have played instrumental roles in the program’s ongoing success, including Nathan Moody of the Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries. He discusses his collaboration on the development of the Forest Science Explorers resources, which offer schoolchildren the chance to take virtual field trips to a variety of different forest types.
Sean Ryan of Private Forest Services Queensland shares his thoughts on the expansion of the program’s ForestVRTM technology to include immersive educational experiences based on the topic of agroforestry – the practice of integrating trees onto land primarily used for pasture or crops, bringing a host of benefits for the forestry industry, farmers, landowners, and the environment.
Paul Mead and Sarah Atkins of She Maps – which specialises in the use of drones in education – reflect on their involvement with the creation of the Drones in Forestry teaching units, which showcase how drones can help foresters to effectively manage their environments.
The episodes also feature feedback directly from the kids themselves, as they give listeners their first-hand accounts of using the resources.
Listen to WoodChat on Soundcloud, iTunes, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
