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R2 Fish
Oct 16, 2009, 8:22:53 PM10/16/09
to Fish School Forum
Hi,
Just wanted to post some info I received from Joanne Johnson a science
teacher in San Diego, CA that has been using the kit as an ongoing
class project - it is fantastic to get feedback like this. Send us an
email if you know any teachers interested in implementing a similar
program!
Thanks!
Russ
www.r2fishschool.com
Kearny SCT: School of Science, Connections & Technology
1) What have you setup in your classroom to teach fish training/
positive reinforcement training? (a brief overview of the program):
We have two 10-gallon tanks and 7 three-gallon tanks. Students work
in teams of three – four. They review the R2 literature and DVD. We
do a unit on animal behavior. Each team researches fish options,
decides on their choice of fish, maintains their fish and tanks, and
keeps an electronic log of their progress. Team members blog and
share successes and challenges. At the end of the term, student teams
present their Fish School projects via Imovie and tri=fold.
2) What have the students learned by training fish? Do they find it to
be an exciting learning experience?
Fish School has generated tremendous interest in students throughout
the campus and visiting community members. Team members experience a
wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment when they demonstrate the
skill of their “fish stars” to an appreciative and often incredulous
audience. Students have learned that patience and consistency are
essential to effectively train animals. The realization that their
biggest hurdle was at the beginning: training the fish in the
recognition of the food wand and then learning how to optimize
positive reinforcement. Students learned to appreciate the Darwinian
concept of natural variation within species: some fish of the same
species train more easily than others; some species are better suited
to our classroom training than other species.
Students learned to brainstorm, strategize, and experiment creatively
in order to problem solve.
3) Anything unexpected happen during the training process?
We did not anticipate all the visitors to our classroom once word of
“Fish School” spread on campus.
Also, ‘lazy’ Oscar (the fish) didn’t seem especially amenable to the
training process until the students deiced to try hand feeding him his
favorite foods.
4) Any other comments? thoughts about your program?
Generating excitement in the learning process is at the heart of
teaching. Fish School is tailor-made for this. Thank you for the
opportunity to challenge and excite my students.
Sincerely,
Joanne Johnson “JJ”
Joanne "JJ" Johnson
School of Science, Connections & Technology
Just wanted to post some info I received from Joanne Johnson a science
teacher in San Diego, CA that has been using the kit as an ongoing
class project - it is fantastic to get feedback like this. Send us an
email if you know any teachers interested in implementing a similar
program!
Thanks!
Russ
www.r2fishschool.com
Kearny SCT: School of Science, Connections & Technology
1) What have you setup in your classroom to teach fish training/
positive reinforcement training? (a brief overview of the program):
We have two 10-gallon tanks and 7 three-gallon tanks. Students work
in teams of three – four. They review the R2 literature and DVD. We
do a unit on animal behavior. Each team researches fish options,
decides on their choice of fish, maintains their fish and tanks, and
keeps an electronic log of their progress. Team members blog and
share successes and challenges. At the end of the term, student teams
present their Fish School projects via Imovie and tri=fold.
2) What have the students learned by training fish? Do they find it to
be an exciting learning experience?
Fish School has generated tremendous interest in students throughout
the campus and visiting community members. Team members experience a
wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment when they demonstrate the
skill of their “fish stars” to an appreciative and often incredulous
audience. Students have learned that patience and consistency are
essential to effectively train animals. The realization that their
biggest hurdle was at the beginning: training the fish in the
recognition of the food wand and then learning how to optimize
positive reinforcement. Students learned to appreciate the Darwinian
concept of natural variation within species: some fish of the same
species train more easily than others; some species are better suited
to our classroom training than other species.
Students learned to brainstorm, strategize, and experiment creatively
in order to problem solve.
3) Anything unexpected happen during the training process?
We did not anticipate all the visitors to our classroom once word of
“Fish School” spread on campus.
Also, ‘lazy’ Oscar (the fish) didn’t seem especially amenable to the
training process until the students deiced to try hand feeding him his
favorite foods.
4) Any other comments? thoughts about your program?
Generating excitement in the learning process is at the heart of
teaching. Fish School is tailor-made for this. Thank you for the
opportunity to challenge and excite my students.
Sincerely,
Joanne Johnson “JJ”
Joanne "JJ" Johnson
School of Science, Connections & Technology
Dean Pomerleau
Oct 16, 2009, 8:59:51 PM10/16/09
to fish-sch...@googlegroups.com
Russ,
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing the news of their success.
If they have any photos or videos they'd be willing to share, I'd love to post them to the Fish School web site!
--Dean
That is so cool! Thanks for sharing the news of their success.
If they have any photos or videos they'd be willing to share, I'd love to post them to the Fish School web site!
--Dean
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