BIM Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) goes online

Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency has announced its Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) has moved temporarily online, allowing teachers access to a series of lessons that have been specially created based on the 5th and 6th class school curriculum.

Primary school children have been learning how oysters, salmon and other seafood are being sustainably farmed around the coast of Ireland in the purpose-built Aquaculture Remote Classroom (ARC) since its launch in 2018. The mobile classroom has visited more than 50 national schools to date.

Richard Donnelly, Sectoral Manager for Salmon and Shellfish, BIM said: “BIM is proud to be able to offer this online resource to teachers and their pupils as schools remain temporarily closed. The seafood industry is an integral part of Ireland’s rural coastal communities. In coastal Donegal for example, as many as 16 out of every 100 adults work in the industry and aquaculture is an important part of the mix. However, quite often even the term aquaculture has many people drawing a blank. The aim of the ARC is to help bridge that gap in understanding.”

Each lesson focuses on an aquaculture theme and has a fun quiz for students to complete at the end. The first episode in the new series is an introduction to aquaculture. Other lessons will look at how geographic, environmental and socio-economic factors can impact the aquaculture industry in Ireland. Health and nutrition is also covered.

Lesson content for each episode links to SESE Science, SESE Geography and SPHE Education topics. For more information or to request access to the online ARC content visit their website.

 

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Ann Robinson
Has a passion for coastal heritage and maritime history. Loves sharing the best of the Irish coast online. Contact me ann@coastmonkey.ie or follow me on Twitter @AnnRobinson22