Education

The primary goal of zoo education is to spark interest in nature across all age groups and to teach people the importance of protecting and loving animals and plants. It helps develop attention, perception, observation, and problem-solving skills, while also fostering cooperation, communication, and empathy. The zoo teaches in a way that is almost unnoticed, drawing on our emotional world to aid in personal development.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION – A TOOL FOR SUSTAINABLE EDUCATION
Zoos play a crucial role in transformative educational and training activities. The primary task of these institutions is conservation, with education being the fundamental tool for achieving this goal.

ANIMAL EDUCATORS

Zoos provide an excellent platform for environmental education. The foundation of zoo-based education is the observation of living animals—those that move within their environment and exhibit natural behaviors. The European-standard enclosures at the Győr Zoo, along with the animals that live there, are ideal for visually demonstrating animal behavior. It is crucial that the enclosures are designed with the principles of environmental enrichment in mind, ensuring that the animals feel comfortable, which in turn allows their natural behaviors to be observed. The lay out of the enclosures themselves holds educational value. This foundation underpins all other aspects, which are an integral part of zoopedagogy. Even during group tours, we strive not only to provide information but also to apply competency-enhancing learning methods and student work formats (such as discussions, debates, individual and group work) simultaneously. This approach helps engage visitors more actively, fostering deeper understanding and personal involvement in the learning process.

 Every year, the zoo prepares its program plan for the upcoming year. Detailed descriptions of these programs are included in our website's program guide, so everyone can get an overview of the opportunities offered by the zoo and register in advance for the events they are interested in.

INDIRECT EDUCATION - the ongoing "invisible" teaching

In indirect education, the educator is not directly present in the process. The learning and information sharing with the student– in this case, the visitor – occurs through some form of auxiliary material or method. Examples include the zoo's signage, events (Easter, Children's Day, Halloween), family weekend programs (Wetlands Day, Valentine's Day, World Animal Day, Birds and Trees Day, etc.), online platforms (Facebook, TikTok, website), Tapizoo (a self-guided area), and the map. These "teaching materials" primarily serve as tools for relaxation and entertainment, but they also contain a wealth of useful information that benefits both sustainable education and the visitor. By participating in the events, visitors of all ages can have fun while simultaneously gaining new knowledge about the animal and plant worlds.

DIRECT EDUCATION - or interactive education

In direct education, there is a dialogue between the educator and the learner. This includes the zoo's interactive activities, such as zooshows, various feeding demonstrations (e.g., penguin walk), animal training sessions (e.g., African elephant training), birthday parties held at the zoo, zoocamps, thematic group tours, and unconventional lessons that can be flexibly integrated into the public education curriculum. During these organized events, groups can learn while having fun, get up close with the zoo's animals, learn about their eating habits, and, among other things, understand the importance of responsible animal care.

Of course, there are overlaps between the two types of education strategies, as groups also encounter the tools of indirect education, and visitors can participate in the non-registered parts of interactive presentations, such as feeding demonstrations, training sessions, and zooshows. Sustainable education works best when we apply proven methods in a mixed approach, offering everyone the opportunity to participate in any zoo program they choose.

 For more detailed information, please contact the Zoopedagogy team at the following contact details:

Email: zoopedagogia@zoogyor.com
Phone: 06 20 969 7223