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Ask an Expert 4th July 2007
To support the River Watch project we plan to hold an “Ask the Expert” Day on Wednesday 4th July 2007 when children will have the wonderful opportunity to ask questions on a range of issues including river wildlife, habitats and conservation.
How your school can take part
Ask the Expert sessions and timetable
How to book a session
Preparing the questions to ask
What equipment you will need
Follow up
 Download the information on this page (2mb)
How can my school take part?
River “Experts” from across the region will be available to answer questions prepared by children on a wide range of themes. To participate on the day look at the table on the next page and identify which sessions you wish to join. Every effort will be made to ensure all schools are able to take part in their first choice session.
Ask an Expert Timetable – Wednesday 4 th July 2007
Time |
Title of Session |
Organisation / Group |
09.30-10.00 |
“The Water we use”
Where does the water we drink come? What happens to our waste water? Why must we all not waste this valuable commodity? Prepare your questions for Jo Sparkes from Southern Water.
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Southern Water |
09.30-10.00 |
What have we found out?
Our local river “expert” is available to answer your children’s questions. “Is your river clean?” “What did you gather in your fishing nets?” “Why are certain species of plant only found upstream?” |
Homewood School |
10.00-10.30 |
“What is a reservoir?”
Charlotte Curtis will be answering your questions about why are reservoirs are important. |
Medway Valley Partnership |
10.00-10.30 |
Transport and navigation
Jonathan Balkwill, Navigation Authority (part of the Environment Agency) Find out about the history of the Navigation (what it was built for), what the river is used for today and what kind of traffic uses it. Learn more about the work of the Navigation Authority (maintaining locks, managing the river in floods, promoting use of the river to boaters, walkers, etc) and their responsibilities. |
Navigation Authority |
10.30-11.00 |
Wildlife on the Medway
Charlotte Curtis will be answering your questions about what wildlife (including birds and insects) you might find along the river bank near Aylesford. |
Medway Valley Partnership |
10.30-11.00 |
Water Safety
Lucy Harris from the Environment Agency
Test your knowledge on the do’s and don’ts of water safety. |
Environment Agency |
11.00-11.30 |
Transport and navigation
Jonathan Balkwill, Navigation Authority (part of the Environment Agency) Find out about the history of the Navigation (what it was built for), what the river is used for today and what kind of traffic uses it. Learn more about the work of the Navigation Authority (maintaining locks, managing the river in floods, promoting use of the river to boaters, walkers, etc) and their responsibilities. |
Navigation Authority |
11.30-12.00 |
Water Safety
Lucy Harris from the Environment Agency
Test your knowledge on the do’s and don’ts of water safety.
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Environment Agency |
LUNCH |
13.15-13.45 |
Watermills – The River Dour
Crabble Mill situated on the River Dour is a working water mill. Find out more about why Watermills were an important part of the local landscape in the past. |
Crabble Corn Mill |
13.45-14.15 |
The River Darent
Find out about the woodlands, rivers, plants and woodlands close to the Environmental Centre and the River Darent. Compare and contrast the results with your Local River or stream. |
Horton Kirby Centre |
13.45-14.15 |
Wetland Wildlife
Mary Tate will introduce you to some of the fascinating creatures that live in the marsh wetlands which is home to many rare and endangered species. |
Romney Marsh Countryside Project (RMCP) |
14.15-14.45 |
The Royal Military Canal
Richard Haynes, RMCP Project Officer for Shepway, will help you to discover the eventful history of one of Kent’s most fascinating landmarks and find out what the Royal Military Canal has to offer today. |
Romney Marsh Countryside Project (RMCP) |
14.45-15.15 |
What have we found out?
Our local river “expert” is available to answer your children’s questions. “Is your river clean?” “What did you gather in your fishing nets?” “Why are certain species of plant only found upstream?” |
Homewood School |
14.45-15.15 |
Wetland Wildlife
Mary Tate will introduce you to some of the fascinating creatures that live in the marsh wetlands which is home to many rare and endangered species. |
Romney Marsh Countryside Project (RMCP) |
How to book a session
E-mail the following information by Friday 22nd June 2007 to:
Phil Bracegirdle (HOS Consultant) 
All bookings will be confirmed by Monday June 25th.
Preparing questions for the River “Experts”
To enable the “Experts” to prepare we request you forward a copy of the questions your children plan to ask, again to Phil Bracegirdle, by Friday 29th June. This action will ensure the “Experts” are prepared and the sessions on the day a success.
What will my school need to take part?
To participate in the “Ask an Expert” Day schools will need the following equipment:
• A webcam
• A desktop microphone
• Internet Broadband access
A “FlashMeeting” log-in for this activity is not required as details about all the videoconferencing sessions will be forwarded to schools. However, to avoid disappointment on the day, we do advise schools to visit, in advance, the Demo area on the FlashMeeting web-site http://flashmeeting.e2bn.net/ to test equipment.
Follow-up
Following your “Ask an Expert” session we request schools publish reports and articles by the children on the “Making the News” web-site. This action, we believe, will demonstrate how videoconferencing can be used by children to gather information and inform future learning.
To help us evaluate the day we request all reports and articles are published on the Making the News web-site by Friday 13th July 2007.
A wonderful opportunity to discover how videoconferencing can enhance learning we hope all schools in the project are able to take part on the day.
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