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Samsung School Technology Connects Kids and Parents with Nature at Sequoia Park Zoo

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Samsung Business USA
Samsung Business USA

Sequoia Park Zoo in northern California wanted to educate and better connect students with the regional wildlife and water ecosystem. In developing the Watershed Heroes exhibit focused on otters, salmon and eagles, the zoo aimed to leverage mobile computing and digital display technologies to create an immersive learning experience and further its educational mission. Learn how the Sequoia Park Zoo worked with Samsung to create an interactive digital learning environment to inspire students and parents alike.

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Case Study: Sequoia Park Zoo Samsung School Technology Connects Kids and Parents with Nature Customer Need Surrounded by 70 acres of picturesque redwoods in northern California, Sequoia Park Zoo wanted to educate and better connect students with the regional wildlife and water ecosystem. In developing the Watershed Heroes exhibit focused on otters, salmon and eagles, the zoo sought to leverage mobile computing and digital display technologies to create an immersive learning experience and further its educational mission. Samsung Solution Sequoia Park Zoo partnered with the local Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) to implement an educational program using the Samsung School learning suite, which combines Galaxy tablets and interactive classroom displays. The Samsung tablets enable students to research and explore the ecosystem around the zoo. In the Learning Lab, Samsung School creates an interactive, participatory environment for students to learn and share their work on the displays. Results Sequoia Park Zoo has built a foundation for a new interactive learning environment powered by Samsung School. The zoo is excited by the possibilities the technology provides to create unique learning experiences, which are resonating not only with young students who have grown up using smartphones and tablets, but also with adult visitors. The early success of the Sequoia Park Zoo initiative has already led other zoos, schools and libraries to consider the project as a next-generation interactive learning model. Overview
2 Founded in 1907, the Sequoia Park Zoo is California’s oldest zoo. Uniquely situated nearby old- growth redwood forests, trails and waterways in northern California, the zoo inspires conservation by creating intimate connections between visitors, animals and the surrounding nature. Over several decades, the zoo has transformed from exhibits featuring caged animals to an interactive setting that educates visitors about wildlife, conservation and science. Its new settings and mission have earned zoo accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As part of its transformation, Sequoia Park Zoo built the Watershed Heroes exhibit designed to feature river otters, salmon and bald eagles in their natural element. The exhibit includes a learning lab that provides an inside view of the salmon pool and eagle habitat, as well as the opportunity to study water chemistry and other aspects of watershed science. Visitors can observe the animals in their natural environment. This area will also be used to tell stories about the intricate relationship between salmon and humans, past and present. Sequoia Park Zoo officials wanted to create an immersive learning experience where kids could learn about the ecosystem around them. Few other zoos around the country are surrounded by such a rich environment, from 100-year-old redwood trees to rivers and streams full of salmon and otters. They saw this as an opportunity for students and visitors to use technology to discover the beauty of the zoo and the environment around it. “We needed mobile technology that would allow children to be untethered from wires and desks, and take the technology outside to learn about the environment around us,” says Amber Neilson, education and operations supervisor at Sequoia Park Zoo. “We wanted learners to be able to take pictures, collect samples and create presentations to share with other students.” Neilson and her colleagues explored possibilities with Dr. Garry Eagles, Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools, whose office serves the needs of 31 rural school districts and 18,000 students. Eagles, likewise, envisioned a learning environment where students could learn outside the classroom, enabling the zoo’s education staff to teach and bring excitement to learning. Together they set out to equip the learning center with tablets for students and educators to learn more about the salmon, otter and eagle exhibits. Colby Smart, HCOE e-learning specialist, was assigned to research, purchase and set up the new technology. “Our goal was to create an environment that expanded the classroom experience beyond the walls of our schools,” says Smart. “This included traditional classes, afterschool programs or special clubs. Our belief is that learning can also happen outside of the classroom.” However, Smart knew he would need more than tablets and classroom displays to do the job. “From my experience, one of the biggest challenges that educators face when implementing technology in the classroom is device management. We needed a solution that would help us control how the tablets were used and make it easy for the zoo’s staff to conduct classroom programs in the learning center.” The Customer Need: Enable Immersive Learning Experiences
High definition displays featuring Samsung’s system-on-chip processor, eliminating need for external media player. Select models feature built-in Wi-Fi. Smart Signage Displays Broad portfolio of smart commercial displays from 10” to 105”, featuring energy efficient LED backlighting technology. Samsung Commercial Display Portfolio Learn more Galaxy Tab S2 A smartly designed, enterprise-ready productivity tool for mobile applications. Samsung GALAXY Tablets Empower educators and engage students with Samsung Galaxy tablets. Learn more After reviewing a number of solutions, Sequoia Park Zoo and the Humboldt County Office of Education chose to deploy the Samsung School interactive learning suite in the learning center. The solution was introduced by the Ray Morgan Company, who has previously deployed Samsung School in numerous traditional school settings. The Samsung School interactive learning suite is a fully integrated one- to-one learning solution that combines Samsung Galaxy tablets, large- format classroom displays and other technology with powerful, interactive management software to create a student-centric learning environment. The solution includes classroom management tools such as screen sharing, student screen monitoring and device control. The Samsung Galaxy tablets enable students at the learning center to venture into the park and surrounding forest to take pictures and research animals and plants for presentations that are then shared with classmates back in the learning lab. Using Samsung School, the instructor can wirelessly mirror his or her tablet’s screen to the large interactive display to introduce new concepts, or assign a student as the presenter to showcase their group’s research. The screen monitoring feature allows the teacher to ensure students are staying on task, while instant quizzes and polls can be used to quickly gauge understanding. “The Samsung School with the Galaxy tablets together really caught my eye,” Colby says. “We researched several tablets out in the market. However, they lacked the cohesive classroom management capabilities we needed. Samsung School, with the in-class management features, together with the Samsung displays and Galaxy tablets, was exactly what we were looking for.” The Watershed Heroes learning lab features a 65-inch Samsung display with a touch overlay for use in classroom presentations and interactive demonstrations. Additional 40-inch displays are used to dynamically present information on the exhibit. For example, one display is used next to the bald eagle enclosure to show live video feeds from a webcam perched above a large eagle nest. For the first time, students can view the nesting and parenting routines of a local pair of bald eagles. The Solution: Zoo Unleashes Samsung School with Tablets and Displays
Learn more: samsung.com/education | insights.samsung.com | 1-866-SAM4BIZ Follow us: youtube.com/samsungbizusa | @SamsungBizUSA ©2016 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All products, logos and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Screen images simulated. This case study is for informational purposes only. Samsung makes no warranties, express or implied, in this case study. CASEST-TAB-SEQUOIAZOO-APR16J The Results: Interactive Learning Center Sets Benchmark for Zoos Nationwide The interactive learning environment powered by Samsung School has enabled Sequoia Park Zoo to create unique learning programs that motivate students and others to learn more about the region’s wildlife and fragile ecosystem. “We’re receiving great feedback from other educators, kids and parents,” says Sequoia Zoo Manager Gretchen Ziegler. “With the Samsung tablets, we can take students out to the Redwood Forest behind the zoo to collect data and beam it back to the learning center. They can build reports about the size of trees they see on their walks or record details from the streams. There’s so much bio diversity around us. And with the Samsung technology, the sky is the limit with what we can do.” As others heard about the Sequoia Samsung School solution, zoos, schools and libraries expressed interest in benchmarking the exhibit to create technology-enabled learning environments that are immersive and engaging. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is also looking at the program’s potential across other zoos. “We want to become a trailblazer for other zoos and schools,” says Deborah Claesgens, executive director of the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation. “We’re receiving overwhelming feedback from the community, asking to help be a part of what’s happening here. That’s an indication that we’re on the right track.” Another sign that Sequoia Park Zoo and Samsung are on the right track is the level of interest from adults. During a recent event, Claesgens and Ziegler gathered feedback from people leaving the learning lab. And what they found surprised them. “More than half the adults in the Learning Lab were participating in the activity, even though it was developed for kids. And teachers from the nearby elementary school are now integrating the learning center into their lesson plans,” Claesgens says.

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Samsung School Technology Connects Kids and Parents with Nature at Sequoia Park Zoo

  • 1. Case Study: Sequoia Park Zoo Samsung School Technology Connects Kids and Parents with Nature Customer Need Surrounded by 70 acres of picturesque redwoods in northern California, Sequoia Park Zoo wanted to educate and better connect students with the regional wildlife and water ecosystem. In developing the Watershed Heroes exhibit focused on otters, salmon and eagles, the zoo sought to leverage mobile computing and digital display technologies to create an immersive learning experience and further its educational mission. Samsung Solution Sequoia Park Zoo partnered with the local Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) to implement an educational program using the Samsung School learning suite, which combines Galaxy tablets and interactive classroom displays. The Samsung tablets enable students to research and explore the ecosystem around the zoo. In the Learning Lab, Samsung School creates an interactive, participatory environment for students to learn and share their work on the displays. Results Sequoia Park Zoo has built a foundation for a new interactive learning environment powered by Samsung School. The zoo is excited by the possibilities the technology provides to create unique learning experiences, which are resonating not only with young students who have grown up using smartphones and tablets, but also with adult visitors. The early success of the Sequoia Park Zoo initiative has already led other zoos, schools and libraries to consider the project as a next-generation interactive learning model. Overview
  • 2. 2 Founded in 1907, the Sequoia Park Zoo is California’s oldest zoo. Uniquely situated nearby old- growth redwood forests, trails and waterways in northern California, the zoo inspires conservation by creating intimate connections between visitors, animals and the surrounding nature. Over several decades, the zoo has transformed from exhibits featuring caged animals to an interactive setting that educates visitors about wildlife, conservation and science. Its new settings and mission have earned zoo accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. As part of its transformation, Sequoia Park Zoo built the Watershed Heroes exhibit designed to feature river otters, salmon and bald eagles in their natural element. The exhibit includes a learning lab that provides an inside view of the salmon pool and eagle habitat, as well as the opportunity to study water chemistry and other aspects of watershed science. Visitors can observe the animals in their natural environment. This area will also be used to tell stories about the intricate relationship between salmon and humans, past and present. Sequoia Park Zoo officials wanted to create an immersive learning experience where kids could learn about the ecosystem around them. Few other zoos around the country are surrounded by such a rich environment, from 100-year-old redwood trees to rivers and streams full of salmon and otters. They saw this as an opportunity for students and visitors to use technology to discover the beauty of the zoo and the environment around it. “We needed mobile technology that would allow children to be untethered from wires and desks, and take the technology outside to learn about the environment around us,” says Amber Neilson, education and operations supervisor at Sequoia Park Zoo. “We wanted learners to be able to take pictures, collect samples and create presentations to share with other students.” Neilson and her colleagues explored possibilities with Dr. Garry Eagles, Humboldt County Superintendent of Schools, whose office serves the needs of 31 rural school districts and 18,000 students. Eagles, likewise, envisioned a learning environment where students could learn outside the classroom, enabling the zoo’s education staff to teach and bring excitement to learning. Together they set out to equip the learning center with tablets for students and educators to learn more about the salmon, otter and eagle exhibits. Colby Smart, HCOE e-learning specialist, was assigned to research, purchase and set up the new technology. “Our goal was to create an environment that expanded the classroom experience beyond the walls of our schools,” says Smart. “This included traditional classes, afterschool programs or special clubs. Our belief is that learning can also happen outside of the classroom.” However, Smart knew he would need more than tablets and classroom displays to do the job. “From my experience, one of the biggest challenges that educators face when implementing technology in the classroom is device management. We needed a solution that would help us control how the tablets were used and make it easy for the zoo’s staff to conduct classroom programs in the learning center.” The Customer Need: Enable Immersive Learning Experiences
  • 3. High definition displays featuring Samsung’s system-on-chip processor, eliminating need for external media player. Select models feature built-in Wi-Fi. Smart Signage Displays Broad portfolio of smart commercial displays from 10” to 105”, featuring energy efficient LED backlighting technology. Samsung Commercial Display Portfolio Learn more Galaxy Tab S2 A smartly designed, enterprise-ready productivity tool for mobile applications. Samsung GALAXY Tablets Empower educators and engage students with Samsung Galaxy tablets. Learn more After reviewing a number of solutions, Sequoia Park Zoo and the Humboldt County Office of Education chose to deploy the Samsung School interactive learning suite in the learning center. The solution was introduced by the Ray Morgan Company, who has previously deployed Samsung School in numerous traditional school settings. The Samsung School interactive learning suite is a fully integrated one- to-one learning solution that combines Samsung Galaxy tablets, large- format classroom displays and other technology with powerful, interactive management software to create a student-centric learning environment. The solution includes classroom management tools such as screen sharing, student screen monitoring and device control. The Samsung Galaxy tablets enable students at the learning center to venture into the park and surrounding forest to take pictures and research animals and plants for presentations that are then shared with classmates back in the learning lab. Using Samsung School, the instructor can wirelessly mirror his or her tablet’s screen to the large interactive display to introduce new concepts, or assign a student as the presenter to showcase their group’s research. The screen monitoring feature allows the teacher to ensure students are staying on task, while instant quizzes and polls can be used to quickly gauge understanding. “The Samsung School with the Galaxy tablets together really caught my eye,” Colby says. “We researched several tablets out in the market. However, they lacked the cohesive classroom management capabilities we needed. Samsung School, with the in-class management features, together with the Samsung displays and Galaxy tablets, was exactly what we were looking for.” The Watershed Heroes learning lab features a 65-inch Samsung display with a touch overlay for use in classroom presentations and interactive demonstrations. Additional 40-inch displays are used to dynamically present information on the exhibit. For example, one display is used next to the bald eagle enclosure to show live video feeds from a webcam perched above a large eagle nest. For the first time, students can view the nesting and parenting routines of a local pair of bald eagles. The Solution: Zoo Unleashes Samsung School with Tablets and Displays
  • 4. Learn more: samsung.com/education | insights.samsung.com | 1-866-SAM4BIZ Follow us: youtube.com/samsungbizusa | @SamsungBizUSA ©2016 Samsung Electronics America, Inc. All rights reserved. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. All products, logos and brand names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. Screen images simulated. This case study is for informational purposes only. Samsung makes no warranties, express or implied, in this case study. CASEST-TAB-SEQUOIAZOO-APR16J The Results: Interactive Learning Center Sets Benchmark for Zoos Nationwide The interactive learning environment powered by Samsung School has enabled Sequoia Park Zoo to create unique learning programs that motivate students and others to learn more about the region’s wildlife and fragile ecosystem. “We’re receiving great feedback from other educators, kids and parents,” says Sequoia Zoo Manager Gretchen Ziegler. “With the Samsung tablets, we can take students out to the Redwood Forest behind the zoo to collect data and beam it back to the learning center. They can build reports about the size of trees they see on their walks or record details from the streams. There’s so much bio diversity around us. And with the Samsung technology, the sky is the limit with what we can do.” As others heard about the Sequoia Samsung School solution, zoos, schools and libraries expressed interest in benchmarking the exhibit to create technology-enabled learning environments that are immersive and engaging. The Association of Zoos and Aquariums is also looking at the program’s potential across other zoos. “We want to become a trailblazer for other zoos and schools,” says Deborah Claesgens, executive director of the Sequoia Park Zoo Foundation. “We’re receiving overwhelming feedback from the community, asking to help be a part of what’s happening here. That’s an indication that we’re on the right track.” Another sign that Sequoia Park Zoo and Samsung are on the right track is the level of interest from adults. During a recent event, Claesgens and Ziegler gathered feedback from people leaving the learning lab. And what they found surprised them. “More than half the adults in the Learning Lab were participating in the activity, even though it was developed for kids. And teachers from the nearby elementary school are now integrating the learning center into their lesson plans,” Claesgens says.