The Equine SmartBits is new technology that trainers can use to monitor a racehorse’s vital signs, such as heart rate, body temperature and blood oxygen in correlations with the horse’s movements while running the track.

Meet the innovators using this new technological bit and see the science and engineering practices they are using to help horses, trainers, and owners.

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Teacher Resources for the Video:

NGSS Disciplines Addressed in Standards Referenced Below:
• Life Sciences

Discussion Questions:
• Based on what was learned in the video, create a list of questions for veterinarians and animal trainers to see if they’ve heard of this innovation, whether they’ve used it or something similar, what they see of its possibilities and other questions. Use their answers to spur a classroom discussion about the value of innovation in general and specifically this invention.

Activity Ideas:
• Use the video in a flipped learning activity. Have students come to class prepared to respond to the discussion questions above and/or share two insights they gained from the video and two questions they’d like answered through their own or class research.
• Have students research advances in animal technology, such as GPS dog collars and then brainstorm other innovations to help animals and owners.
• Provide the video to students doing an independent project on animal technology. How could they use information, and/or excerpts, from the video in their final product?

Resources for Additional Research:
• Learn more about Equine Smartbits LLC at https://www.esbits.com/.
• Learn more about the NGSS Science and Engineering Practices at the NSTA website.

Unique ID for the Video: IinAction-45
• Use the unique ID as a shortcut for students to find this specific video. Click on Search and choose “By Video ID.” Type in the Video ID as it appears above.

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