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Goals and Guidelines

GOALS

• Create a collaborative learning experience to expand student knowledge of leatherback turtles.
• Provide a platform for teachers to share innovative successful instructional strategies relating to environmental conservation.
• Share via the Internet how students and schools can participate in the Great Turtle Race.
• Make resources available on leatherback turtles for other educators by submitting instructional designs or other lessons in a format that is convenient for educators.
• Create a plan of action with your students to raise funds to help save leatherback turtles, and to create opportunities for teaches and students to visit leatherback turtle nesting areas.
• Form sustainable learning communities within your school that can teach students about leatherback turtles and environmental literacy.
• Provide students and teachers with a platform to understand the importance of tracking leatherback turtles and introduce them to the equipment used.
• Empower students to understand and  utilize technology in a positive way to help the environment.
• Introduce students and teachers to careers related to environmental conservation.
• Provide a technology rich, multi-discipline learning environment that promotes higher order thinking skills through a student centered experience.
• Encourage further investigation regarding other environmental situations both close to home and globally.
• Make leatherback turtle information available to the general public if possible.
• Establish a meaningful learning experience and make relevant connections to students' personal lives and interests.
• Provide time for students to discover the connections between human activities and the related consequences to our ecosystems.

Suggested Teacher Guidelines:

• Teachers are responsible for monitoring student activities to ensure appropriate levels of behavior within the school and/or in the community.
• Teachers should maintain an open line of communication throughout the project with students, parents, and administrators.
• Teachers/team members are responsible for keeping records and documenting all student work related to the race.
• Teachers/team members are encouraged to utilize video conferencing, and email (if available) as methods of communication for additional resources.
• Participants are encouraged to use electronic folders to document race activities and to understand the importance of integrating technology into the curriculum.
• Teachers are encouraged to use student inquiry based, student centered, teacher-facilitated  methods for the race activities.
• Allow student time for hypotheses, brainstorming and research.
• Promote success of group collaboration through a systematic, rather than trial and error approach.
• Share your success stories as much as possible with community members, other teachers and professional organizations.