Taronga Zoo—Rainforest Heroes

Taronga Zoo is an interactive field trip that users can take. After launching the app, users are prompted to enter their “Team Details,” which include their team name, if they are at the zoo, and add a picture, and then tap the “Reveal Mission” button. Next, Taronga Zoo shows users the tools they can use while at the zoo. After previewing the tools, users tap the “Start Mission” button on the bottom right of the screen to begin. At this point, users are shown a map of the zoo with its different exhibits, and users are to select an exhibit. Once an exhibit is selected, users can access videos and images of the animal and read facts about it. Plus, users are to complete different learning activities about the animal. After completing all the different activities included at an exhibit, users are to view and complete a field report for the animal. As users visit the different exhibits and complete the activities and field reports, the exhibits are checked off the zoo map.

Instructional Ideas

1. Teachers can assign groups of students to research a different exhibit included in this app. As part of that research, students will need to summarize the information learned from this app and research three to five additional facts about the animal. Students can present their findings to the class as a written report or interactive media presentation. The reports could be composed using the UX Documents, Office Offline, or WPS Office app, and the presentations could be made using the FlowVella, ShowMe, or Educreations app.
2. Students could compose a persuasive essay about which animal included in this app is their favorite. To do so, students would need to view all the exhibits in this app and then choose their favorite animal. Next, students will compose an essay explaining why they chose a certain animal. Sample reasons for selection include the animal’s appearance, size, dietary habits, and natural environment, among other possibilities. Students can write their paper using the UX Documents, WPS Office, or CloudOn app, and students can post their paper to a class website. Teachers can add a twist to this assignment by having students respond to a paper posted to the website that explains if they agree or disagree with the student and why.
3. After students have visited all of the exhibits in this app and completed the field reports, teachers can have students create an “exhibit” for animals that they encounter routinely, such as their household pets, squirrels, or birds. To create these reports, students can take videos and pictures of the animals, research their dietary habits and other pertinent information, and create a quiz about the animals. Students can post this information to a forum on a class website or create their own website with this information using the Coursmos or Jimdo app.

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‎Taronga Zoo - Rainforest Heroes

Developer: NSW Department of Education

Price: Free