Profession zoo educator

Zoo educators teach visitors about the animals living at the zoo/aquarium as well as other species and habitats. They provide information about management of zoos, its collection of animals, and wildlife conservation. Zoo educators can be involved in both formal and informal learning opportunities ranging from production of information signs at enclosures to delivering classroom sessions linked to school or university curricula. Depending on the size of the organisation the education team may be a single person or a large team. Consequently the optional skills reqired are very broad and will vary from organisation to organisation.  Zoo educators also promote conservation efforts. This can involve work within the zoo but also in the field as part of any zoo outreach project(s).

Personality Type

• Enterprising / Conventional
• Social / Enterprising

Knowledge

• Zoo community

  Zoo and aquarium community on a local, regional and global scale. Zoo membership associations, their guiding principles and how this might affect management of individual institutions within the wider community.

• Animal evolution

  The evolutionary history of animals and the development of species and their behaviour through domestication.

• Applied zoology

  The science of applying animal anatomy, physiology, ecology, and behaviour in a particular practical context.

Skills

• Coordinate events

  Lead events by managing budget, logistics, event support, security, emergency plans and follow up.

• Study topics

  Carry out effective research on relevant topics to be able to produce summary information appropriate to different audiences. The research may involve looking at books, journals, the internet, and/or verbal discussions with knowledgeable persons.

• Establish educational network

  Establish a sustainable network of useful and productive educational partnerships to explore business opportunities and collaborations, as well as stay current about trends in education and topics relevant to the organisation. Networks should ideally be developed on a local, regional, national and international scale.

• Develop educational activities

  Develop speeches, activities and workshops in order to foster access and comprehension to the artistic creation processes. It can address a particular cultural and artistic event such as a show or an exhibition, or it can be related to a specific discipline (theatre, dance, drawing, music, photography etc.). Liaise with storytelles, craftspeople and artists.

• Fix meetings

  Fix and schedule professional appointments or meetings for clients or superiors.

• Conduct educational activities

  Plan, perform and supervise educational activities for a variety of audiences, such as for school children, university students, specialist groups, or members of the public.

• Apply teaching strategies

  Employ various approaches, learning styles, and channels to instruct students, such as communicating content in terms they can understand, organising talking points for clarity, and repeating arguments when necessary. Use a wide range of teaching devices and methodologies appropriate to the class content, the learners' level, goals, and priorities.

• Educate people about nature

  Speak to a variety of audiences about e.g. information, concepts, theories and/or activities related to nature and its conservation. Produce written information. This information may be presented in a range of formats e.g. display signs, information sheets, posters, website text etc.

• Communicate with target community

  Identify and implement the best channels of communication for the community you are looking to work with.

• Build community relations

  Establish affectionate and long-lasting relationships with local communities, e.g. by organising special programms for kindergarden, schools and for dissabled and older people, raising awareness and receiving community appreciation in return.

• Coordinate educational programmes

  Plan and coordinate educational and public outreach programs such as workshops, tours, lectures and classes.

• Ensure cross-department cooperation

  Guarantee communication and cooperation with all the entities and teams in a given organisation, according to the company strategy.

• Carry out internet research

  Execute efficient search on the internet in order to gather relevant information and share it with others.

• Develop educational resources

  Create and develop educational resources for visitors, school groups, families and special interest groups.

Optional knowledge and skills

Source: Sisyphus ODB