Homework

How to Prepare for the Workshop

Laptop or Tablet    

Plan to bring a laptop or tablet along with you for taking notes and downloading presentations and other materials.

Survey

A simple SurveyMonkey survey that will help the instructors to tailor their presentations to the participants' needs. Once you are registered you will be given a link to the survey.

2026 OKWS Participant Survey Deadline is August 1, 2026.

Pre-Homework

There will be a few simple homework projects that will need to be submitted prior to the workshop. They will be used in the workshop and later as a resource for the SSP. Upload your homework assignments to a folder on Dropbox.  Name the folder "OKWS 2026 your zoo your name".  Share that folder with David by August 1, 2026. Contact David Hamilton with any questions. The files must be named as specified below.

Pre-Test:

A quiz to see what you really know about those mischievous little critters we care for. Once you are registered you will be given a link to the survey.

2026 OKWS Pre-Test (Link live as of ___________)

Exhibit PowerPoint

Create a simple PowerPoint presentation of your institution's exhibit and your otters. Show off your good stuff. Point out what you would do differently if you could.

    Limitations: twenty slides, PowerPoint (any version).

Name the file - your zoo species 2026.ppt (e.g., Philadelphia Zoo GO 2026.ppt, Newport Aquarium ASCO 2026.pptx)

It should look something like this example from the Oakland Zoo,    Oakland Zoo NARO 2010.pptx.

Describe your Life Support System:

Send description of your Life Support System.  This could be a document or an annotated Powerpoint.

Name the file: Life Support your zoo 2026.doc or Life Support your aquarium 2026.pptx 

(e.g., Life Support Seneca Park Zoo 2026.pptx)

Enrichment List:

Send us a list of your approved enrichment items for your otters. We are also interested in other exciting things that you are doing to keep your otters active and thinking. Pictures are great!

Name the file: Enrichment your species your zoo.doc or   Enrichment your species your zoo.xls

(e.g., Enrichment NARO Mesker Park Zoo.xlsx)

Enrichment Powerpoint:

 Create one PowerPoint slide with pictures of three of your most creative otter enrichment items.  Make sure to include pictures, a short description (if needed), your name, and the name of your aquarium or zoo.  They will all be used to create a PowerPoint slide deck for our enrichment night.

Name the file: Creative Enrichment your aquarium.ppt or .pptx

Headshots:

 Send a clear picture of each of your otters' faces.

Name the file - otters' name your zoo year.jpg ,  (e.g. Ashki Seneca Park 2023.jpg)

Poop pics:

Take clear close-up photos of different types (consistencies) of otter fecals with a scale for reference and label according to your own descriptors for daily reporting. We will try to create fecal scoring together in our breakout sessions.

Name the file - species type of fecal.jpg, (e.g. NARO mucus fecal.jpg)

Fun Videos and Pictures:

Send in any short video clips or photos of your otters being cute, cool, super smart, mischevious, etc.

Name the file - your aquarium fun pics 2023.jpg or your zoo fun video 2023.mov,  e.g. Denver Zoo Fun Pics 2023.jpg

Vocalizations:

Record videos with clear audio, capturing otter vocalizations with a note explaining the context.  Name the file something similar to: ASCO Vocalization Contact Call, or NARO Vocalization Aggression.

Body Condition Scoring:

To Be Determined - 

Giant Otter Attendees' Homework:

Open this file for special Giant Otter homework: 

Upload your homework assignments to a folder on Dropbox.  Name the folder "OKWS 2026 your institution your name".  Share that folder with David.