The Easter Bilby goes online

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		Posted March 2006 The Easter Bilby goes online Education Views, Number 5, 2006

		Tinana State School students learning about the Easter bilby through online chats Browsing around the Learning Place website, Tinana State School Special Education teacher Kate Golusin found something that caught her eye. Easter online chats featuring a very special guest: the Easter Bilby. "I knew at once that this was something my Special Education class of six Year 1 to 4 students would enjoy," Ms Golusin said. Ms Golusin had a number of aims for her class. "These students have a need for communication," she said. "I saw online chats as a way to extend them, in answering questions, extending their vocabularies, and developing their writing skills." As well, Ms Golusin believed that taking part in online chats would assist in extending the students' awareness of technology. The online chats will take place on the Learning Place between 4 and 7 April. Guests will include scientists discussing the plight of the endangered bilby; a television scriptwriter who has written an international award winning documentary about the bilby and the people working to save it; and guests from other countries talking about their Easter traditions. The Easter Bunny will make an appearance, explaining his European heritage. And, of course, there's the Australian Easter Bilby.

"My class is going to be very excited," Ms Golusin said. "Some of them are still young enough to believe in the Easter Bunny, but I don't think they're so aware of the Easter Bilby. So I'll be using these chats to extend their knowledge of Australian animals, especially endangered animals."

Ms Golusin said the students had already taken part in fund-raising to help save a local endangered animal, the Mary River turtle. She plans to work with them before Easter on an Austrlaian animal theme, concentrating on the bilby and other endangered animals.

"The fantasy theme of the Easter Bilby appeals to me," Ms Golusin said. "Some children have very sad lives, and they don't get much of a childhood. They need to make contact with good people, kind people, and see the goodness that there is in the world. They also need to have some escape into a fantasy world. If the technology can give them that escape, in a protected environment, this will be a great experience for my class!".

For further information on Easter chats, contact Nattalie Carew or Candice Jackson at the Learning Place, on 07 34216656.

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