Your class are watching a penguin diving to eat fish, having just witnessed a giraffe chomping away in the trees. They’re laughing (well, penguins are hilarious), engaged and unconsciously learning about animals from all over the globe.

And the silver lining? This class trip was without the risk assessment, head count and painful bus journey. And without the costs, too. 

This scenario may seem improbable but, according to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), it is entirely possible. With the help of some tech, the zoo can now come to you.

“We know it’s not always possible for teachers to take students out of the classroom as much as they would like.” explains Stephanie Pace, one of ZSL’s Discovery and Learning Officers. “To overcome this, we have turned to digital technology to help us bring the zoo to the classroom.”

Essentially, we are talking about Skyping animals. You gather your students together in front of a tablet, monitor or interactive whiteboard and call a koala or give a bonobo a bell. 

ZSL have been running the calls since September 2015. They have around 28 schools signed up and can arrange a call at one week’s notice. So far, ZSL have completed around 56 calls from a diverse range of locations, including Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides and Murcia, Spain.

At a time of tightened budgets and increased Health and Safety concerns, a remote option will no doubt appeal to many teachers. And though it can’t match the real thing, a virtual visit can still provide moments of wonder, says Pace.

“During one call, Jae Jae, our adult male Sumatran tiger, walked right up to the glass and looked directly at the camera,’ she explains.

As it is a Skype call, this is a two way experience with full sound. So students can hear the animals, as well as see them, and pose questions to the ‘host’ from the zoo. 

Indeed, while giraffes, penguins and tigers are unquestionably cool, they aren’t the only stars of the show: ZSL’s zoologists and conservationists work in over 50 different countries across the world and really help bring the science behind the virtual sessions to life.

Of course, working with animals can be a slightly unpredictable experience and technology has a habit of playing up at crucial times, so the ZSL do have some tips to make sure all goes smoothly. 

1. Run a test call
   An absolute must to minimise chances of technical hiccups. A test call enables you to check connectivity, sound and video. It also gives you the opportunity to talk through the session face to face and raise any questions.
2. Communicate with your host beforehand
   This way you can make sure that the session is going to link in with your classroom teaching and also know how best to support your students before, during and after the call.
3. Set the scene
   Ask the students to prepare questions they want to ask, or discuss what kind of things you could all learn from the session. Introduce the person you will be talking to, the location of that person and what they will do. This will help them understand what is going on and increase the excitement around the event.
4. Maximise engagement
   All our digital outreach sessions include activities that all students can participate in. Students are also encouraged to work scientifically to answer questions about the topic and ask us questions they may have.

If you want to give it a go, contact ZSL on 0344 967 0831 (open every day 8.30am - 5pm).