The Ecology Explorer Web site is the most important technology tool we have for keeping in touch with our teachers and students. The technology team at CAP LTER maintains and updates the Web site. Teachers are paid to participate. Education Liaison Participation Education liaisons play an important role in maintaining the connections between teachers, university researchers, and the broader community. Coordinating workshops, biannual teacher meetings, and summer internships Administering the Teacher Listserv and the Ecology Explorer Web site.
Students get the opportunity to work on a real research project.
Teachers have told us that this motivates many students. Community Participation Linking teachers to other community resources is important to the overall project. Parents have also become involved in the projects through their children. For example, elementary and middle school teachers have reported to us that parents who normally don't get involved in the school are happy to help bird watching. This appears to be especially true in our schools with large Spanish-speaking populations.