The Mangrove Education Project (MEP) launched its new curriculum of the Cayman Islands Coastal Education Guide at a Cayman teachers’ workshop on March 27.
Some 20 teachers from Edna Moyle and Theoline L McCoy primary schools attended the workshop as part of their March Professional Development (PD) day.
Held at the National Trust’s Clubhouse, the workshop featured the 200-page guide, which covers the interrelated coastal lagoon ecosystems of mangroves, seagrass, and reefs, several hands-on activities, and an introduction to the Coastal Lagoon Education’s new website.
The Coastal Lagoon Education’s website carries an extensive inventory of teaching resources ranging from the Coastal Lagoon Education Guide itself, the original Marvellous Mangroves guide, and PowerPoints to background resources, including in-depth studies and a series of specially made “how to” videos with simple instructions on carrying out activities.
Two more PD workshops are planned for April 18th & 20th from 3:30pm to 5:00pm at the National Trust Clubhouse.
Explaining the importance of the website and the workshops, MEP executive director, Martin Keeley, said:
The CLE website – https://www.coastallagoon.org – enhances the curriculum and teaching efficacy and will monitor the children’s uptake of the material. The site is constantly being updated.
Plans are underway to also add monitoring and evaluation links of the educational curriculum.
Keeley added:
All teachers have to do is register on-line for access to the materials.
Each participating teacher was given a copy of the coastal lagoon guide and walked through the different methods of interlinking its materials with the website.
Mangrove Education Project
Prior to publication of the guide and website, work with individual classes and schools has been carried out by the MEP’s Mangrove Rangers, says rangers Education Manager Cassandra MacDowell.
Commenting further, MacDowell said: “The rangers help with CEG teaching, field activities, and filming of activities, ensuring all activity is well documented and illustrated. This activity will continue to support future teacher classroom requirements.”
MacDowell added: “Field trips to complement the guide and website are available to any teacher who wishes to explore the coastal lagoon ecosystem first hand, whether it be mangroves, seagrass or reefs.”
MacDowell continued:
We have already run trips on both Grand Cayman and the Brac and are happy to organize and run them for any teacher that is interested. Just contact us at [email protected], or call 345-926-8621.
