Theatre and Sea Turtles: An Intervention in Biodiversity Education

Abstract

Biodiversity is an important part of the ecology and sustainable development. Turkey is a developing country and sustainable development is difficult for Turkey because of adopting Mickey Mouse economic development model. In other words, the economic development is in front of the sustainable development. However, Turkey has biodiversity richness so rural people’s biodiversity education is especially so important. One of this richness is seat turtles (C. mydas and C. caretta). Hatay, Samandag beaches are important nesting areas for these sea turtles so research groups of this study are from Samandag. There were two groups (experimental and control), and 206 6th grade student in this study. The aim of this study is to determine the increasing knowledge level of the students about the sea turtles life and the conservation ways of them. A theatre performance was used as an intervention. The quantitative approach was adopted in order to develop a knowledge test. We reached two results in this study: (1) The theat re method is effective in order to gain knowledge about sea turtles, (2) the theatre method is more successful than lecturing on increasing knowledge level of students about sea turtles

Keywords

• theatre, sea turtles, biodiversity education, Hatay, Samandag beaches, Turkey

References

1. Anthworth, R.L., Pike D.A., & Siner, J.C. (2006). Nesting ecology, current status and conservation sea turtles on an uninhabited beach in Florida. Biological Conservation, 130, 10-15.
2. Barker, S. & Elliott, P. (2000). Planning a skill-based resource for biodiversity education. Journal of Biology Education, 34 http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=c3e8499b-f6b7-4638- 123- a78b-ce5b52dc56ba%40sessionmgr112&vid=2&hid=125 127. Retrieved from
3. Barry, C. (2010). The environment/ society disconnect: An overview of a concept tetrad of environment. The Journal of Environmental Education, 41 (2), 116- 132. Doi: 10.1080/00958960903295241.
4. Baskent, E. Z., Kose, S., Terzioglu, S., Baskaya, S. & Altun, L. (2005). The complete the biodiversity with the forest http://www.orman.ktu.edu.tr/om/abds/oamenajmani/downloads/amenajman/eserler/bc_tasarim.pdf
5. Bjorndal, K. A., Carr, A., Meylan, A. B., & Mortimer, J. A. (1985). Reproductive biology of the hawksbill, Eretmochelys imbricata, at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, with notes on the ecology of the species in the Caribbean. Biological Conservation, 34, 353–368.
6. Bozdogan, A. E. (2007). The importance and place of science and technology museums in science education (Unpublished PhD Thesis), Gazi University Educational Science Institution, Ankara, Turkey.
7. Broderick A.C., & Godley B.J. (1996). Population and nesting ecology of the green turtle, Chelonia mydas, and the loggerhead turtle, Caretta caretta, in northern Cyprus. Zoology in the Middle East, 13, 27–46.
8. Bursa Science Museum (2013). Retrieved from http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/haber/tubitaktan-bursa-bilim- merkezine-40-milyon-tl

9. Buyukozturk, S. (2007a). Data anlaysis handbook for social science. Ankara, Turkey: Pegem A Publication.
10. Buyukozturk, S. (2007b). Experimental designs: Designs and data analyses of pretest/posttest/control groups. Ankara, Turkey: Pegem A Publication.
11. Campbell, C.L., Lagueux, C.J., & Mortimer, J.A. (1996). Leatherback turtle, Dermochelys coriacea, nesting at Tortuguero, Costa Rica, in 1995. Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2, 169–172.
12. Canbolat A.F. (1996). Examining of sea turtle (Caretta caretta (Linnaeus, 1758) population in Dalyan and Patara. (Unpublished PhD thesis) Natural Science Institution, Hacettepe University, Ankara.
13. Canbolat A.F. (2004). A review of sea turtle nesting activity along the Mediterranean Coast of Turkey. Biological Conservation, 116, 81-91.
14. Canterbury Polythechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) (2013). Department of sustainability and outdoor education. Retrieved from http://www.cpit.ac.nz/study-options/our-study-interest-areas/sustainability- and-outdoor-education
15. Carr, A., & Carr, M.H. (1972). Site fixity in the Caribbean green turtle. Ecology, 53, 425–429.
16. Ceken, R. , & Ayas, S. (2010). Revision of the elementary science and technology curricula based on the geographical conditions of the local school district. Education Journal of Erzincan University, 12 (2), 191- 207. Retrieved from http://eefdergi.erzincan.edu.tr/index.php/EFDERGI/article/viewFile/631/516
17. Celikkol, N. Z., & Soran, H. (2012). The biodiversity knowledge and attitudes of secondary school students. X. National Science and Mathematics Conference, 27- 30 June 2012, Nigde, Turkey. Retrieved from http://kongre.nigde.edu.tr/xufbmek/dosyalar/tam_metin/pdf/2454-30_05_2012-21_15_38.pdf
18. Cepel, N. (2008). Ecological problems and solutions (3rd Press) Ankara: TUBITAK Popular Books Series.
19. Connolly, P. (2007). Quantitative data analysis in education: A critical introduction using SPSS. New York: Routledge.
20. Daniel, M. (2011). Doing quantitative research in education with SPSS. Los Angeles: Sage Publications.
21. Dervisoglu, S. (2007). Learning Pre-Conditions for Protecting the Biodiversity. Unpublished PhD Thesis. Hacettepe University, Science Institute, Ankara, Turkey.
22. Dervisoglu, S. Menzel, S., Soran, H., & Bogeholz, S. (2009). Influence of values, beliefs and problem perception on personal norms for biodıversity protection. Hacettepe University Journal of Education, 37, 50-59. Retrieved http://www.efdergi.hacettepe.edu.tr/200937SEV%C4%B0LAY%20DERV%C4%B0%C5%9EO%C4%9 ELU.pdf from
23. Ehrhart L.M., & Raymond P.W. (1983). Loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green turtles (Chelonia mydas) nesting densities on a major east-central Florida nesting beach. Am. Zool. 23, 963 (Abstract.).
24. Elliott, L., Gruer, L., Farrow, K., Henderson, A. & Cowan, L. (1996). Theatre in AIDS education-a controlled study. AIDS Care: Psychological and Socio-medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, 8(3), 321-340. Retrieved from http://www.tandfonline.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/doi/pdf/10.1080/09540129650125740
25. Endangered Species of Act (ESA) (2013). 40 years of conserving endangered species. January, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.fws.gov/endangered/esa-library/pdf/ESA_basics.pdf
26. Erentay, N., & Erdogan, M. (2009). Nature education at 22 steps. Ankara: METU Publication.
27. Ergene, S., Aymak, C., & Uçar A. H. (2005). Nesting activity of the marine turtles (Chelonia mydas and Caretta caretta) during 2005 in Alata, Mersin-Turkey. 26th Sea Turtle Symposium. 3-8 April 2006 Crete, Greece (2005), pp: 293.
28. Erten, S. (2004). Biodiversity as a rising value in the international scale. The Journal of Hacettepe University, Faculty of http://www.efdergi.hacettepe.edu.tr/200427SİNAN%20ERTEN.pdf Education, 27, 98-105. Retrieved
29. Ford, P. (1986).Outdoor education: Definition and philosophy. ERIC Publications; ERIC Digests in Full Text ERIC Clearinghouse. Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/PDFS/ED267941.pdf
30. Gayford, C. (2000). Biodiversity education: A teacher’s perspective. Environmental Education Research, 6 (4), 347- http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=20c0164e-3322-42b5- aa90-51f235e817aa%40sessionmgr112&vid=2&hid=125 Retrieved from
31. Hawkey (2001). Walking with woodlice: An experiment in biodiversity education. Journal of Biological Education. http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=915b5e89-94c6-49ea- 83d3-38288ab9b52b%40sessionmgr110&vid=2&hid=125 Retrieved from
32. Hicks D. & Holden C. (1995). Exploring the future: a missing dimension in environmental education. Environmental Education Research, 3 (2), 189- 201.
33. Hilton-Taylor, C. (2000). 2000 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Cambridge, UK: IUCN Publication.
34. Hopkins, H. (1963). Education by theatre. Educational Theatre Journal, 15 (4), 299-310. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/stable/pdfplus/3204847.pdf?acceptTC=true
35. Ilgaz C. (1998). An investigation on marine turtles population of Northern Karpaz and Dalyan beaches and the effect of different ecological conditions on hatching success. (Unpubliahed MSc Thesis), Dokuz Eylül University.
36. IUCN (1994). Guidelines for Protected areas Management Categories. IUCN Commision on National Parks and Protected Areas with the assistance of the World Conservation Monitoring Centre, Gland, Switzerland. Retrieved from http://data.iucn.org/dbtw-wpd/edocs/paps-016.pdf
37. Kaska Y. (1998). Studies on the embryology, ecology and evolution of sea turtles in the eastern Mediterranean. (Unpublished PhD Thesis), University of Glasgow.
38. Kassas, M. (2002a). Biodiversity: gaps in knowledge. The Environmentalist, 22, 345–351. Retrieved from http://link.springer.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/content/pdf/10.1023%2FA%3A1020766914456.pdf
39. Kassas, M. (2002b). Environmental education: Biodiversity. The Environmentalist, 22, 43–49. Retrieved from http://kassas.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/067.pdf
40. Kilic, D. S., Dervisoglu, S., & Kasap, M. Y. (2012). The effect of youth’s personal and group efficacy beliefs on their commitment to protect species. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 1 (2), 289- 294. Retrieved from http://jret.org/FileUpload/ks281142/File/33._kilic.pdf
41. Kilic, D. S., & Dervisoglu, S. (2013). Teacher candidates’ pedagogical content knowledge, attitudes and concerns regarding teaching biodiversity. Journal of Research in Education and Teaching, 2 (1), 100- 109. Retrieved from http://www.jret.org/FileUpload/ks281142/File/11a.dilek_sultan_kilic.pdf
42. Lindemann-Matthies, P., Constantinou, C., Lehnert, H. J., Nagel, U., Raper, G., & Kadji-Beltran, C. (2011). Confidence and perceived competence of preservice teachers to ımplement biodiversity education in primary schools—four comparative case studies from Europe. International Journal of Science Education, 33 (16), 2247-2273. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09500693.2010.547534
43. Lippman, M. (1951). Education and a free theatre. Educational Theatre Journal, 3 (2), 95-98. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/stable/pdfplus/3203934.pdf
44. Marcovaldi M.A., & Laurent, A.(1996). A six season study of marine turtle nesting at Praia do Forte, Bahia, Brazil, with implications for conservation and management, Chelonian Conservation and Biology, 2, 55- 59.
45. MEB (National Education Ministry of Turkey) (2013). Retrieved from http://ttkb.meb.gov.tr/www/ogretim- programlari/icerik/72
46. Menzel, S., & Bogeholz, S. (2010). Values, beliefs and norms that foster Chilean and German pupils’ commitment to protect biodiversity. International Journal of Environmental & Science Education, 5 (1), 31- 49. Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=6a8e711e-30f0-480c- b689-593752cb1d2e%40sessionmgr114&vid=2&hid=125
47. Mitchell, W. (2008). The changing climate of outdoor educatıon in the Quebec Cegep System. (Unpublished master thesis) Faculty Of Education Lakehead Unıversity, Ontario, Canada.
48. Nwadigwe, C. E. (2007). ‘Meet us at the other side of the river’: performance venue and community education among migrant fishermen in Nigeria. Research in Drama Education: The Journal of Applied Theatre and Performance, 12 (1), 65-77. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13569780601095006
49. O'Farrell, L. (2002). Theatre-in-education: expanding the parameters. TRiC / RTaC , 23 (1-2), 119-129. Retrieved http://web.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=85e2bd49-81b7-49cb- 969b-9cbfb4a0df4e%40sessionmgr104&vid=2&hid=112 from
50. Okur, E., Yalcin-Ozdilek, S., & Sahin, C. (2011). The common methods used ın biodiversity education by primary school teachers (Canakkale, Turkey). Journal of Theory and Practice in Education, 7 (1), 142- 159. Retrieved from http://eku.comu.edu.tr/index/7/1/eokur_syozdilek_csahin.pdf
51. Peleg, R. & Baram-Tsabari, A. (2011). Atom surprise: using theatre in primary science education. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 20, 508–524. doi: 10.1007/s10956-011-9299-y
52. Powers, D. L. (2004). The effects of an outdoor education program on life effectiveness skills of participants. (Unpublished master of science thesis) California State University, California, USA.
53. Rosenberg, H. (1973). Theatre in education: The Belgrade Team. The Elementary School Journal, 74, (2), 84- 87. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/stable/pdfplus/1000710.pdf
54. Rudman. M. (1972). "The Learning Theatre": Education for A.D. 2000. Improving College and University Learning Teaching, 20 http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/stable/pdfplus/27563436.pdf Classroom: (4), Center, 297-298 Retrieved from
55. Saito, C. H. (2013). Environmental education and biodiversity concern: beyond the ecological literacy. American Journal http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=%22ENVIRONMENTAL+EDUCATION+AND+BIODIVERSITY +CONCERN%3A+BEYOND+THE+ECOLOGICAL+LITERACY%22&btnG=&hl=tr&as_sdt=0%2C5
56. SANZ (Sustainable Aotearoa New Zealand INC) (2009). Strong Sustainability for New Zealand: Principles and Scenarios, Auckland, New Zealand: Nakedize Limited Publication.
57. Sarabhai, K. V. (2011). Biodiversity and ESD. Journal of Education for Sustainable Development , 5 (2), 159- 161. Retrieved from http://jsd.sagepub.com.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/content/5/2/159
58. Sencan, H. (2005). Reliability and validity in social and behavioral measures. Ankara: Seckin Publication.
59. Sextou, P. (2006). A theatre-in-education study of multicultural understanding in hellas. Youth Theatre Journal, 20 (1), 77-93. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/08929092.2006.10012588
60. Smyth J. C., 1995. Scotland: Developing a national strategy for environmental education. pp. 111- 119.
61. Souto- Manning, M. (2011). Playing with power and privilege: Theatre games in teacher education. Teaching and http://dx.doi.org.ezproxy.waikato.ac.nz/10.1016/j.tate.2011.04.005 Education, 27 (2011) 997-1007. Retrieved from
62. Tankus, M., & Soran, H. (2012). The examining of the perception, belief, and behaviour tendency of secondary school students toward the wetland protection. X. National Science and Mathematics Conference, 27- 30 June http://kongre.nigde.edu.tr/xufbmek/dosyalar/tam_metin/pdf/2377-30_05_2012-14_55_21.pdf Nigde, Turkey. Retrieved from
63. The University of Otago (2013). Retrieved from http://www.csafe.org.nz/
64. The University of Waikato (2010). Leading the way to a sustainable future. Retrieved from http://www.waikato.ac.nz/research/ResearchReport.pdf
65. Tsai, J. T. (2006). The identifıcation of the components for an outdoor education curriculum in Taiwan. (Unpublished PhD thesis) The School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation Indiana University, USA.
66. TUBITAK (2010). Department of Science- Society Department, 4004 coded projects. Retrieved from http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tubitak_content_files//bilimtoplum/dogaegitimi/6994_websiteleri_bilisim.pdf
67. UN (United Nations) (2001). Compendium of Human Settlements Statistics 2001. Retrieved from http://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sconcerns/housing/publications/Series_N6.pdf
68. UN (United Nations) (1992). United Nations Conference on Environment & Development Rio de Janerio, Agenda 21. Retrieved from http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/Agenda21.pdf
69. UN (United Nations) (2009). Investment policy developments in G-20 countries. Retrieved from http://unctad.org/en/Docs/webdiaeia20099_en.pdf
70. Uzun, N., Ozsoy, S., & Keles, O. (2010). Pre-service teachers’ views about the concept of biodiversity. The Research Journal of Biology Science (Biyoloji Bilimleri Araştırma Dergisi) 3 (1), 85-91. Retrieved from http://nobel.gen.tr/Makaleler/B%C4%B0BAD-Issue%201-40-2011.pdf
71. Weishampel J.F., Bagley, D.A., Ehrhart L.M., & Rodenbeck L.B. (2003). Spatiotemporal patterns of annual sea turtle nesting behaviours along an East Central Florida beach. Biological Conservation, 110, 295–303.
72. Weels R., & Zeece P. D. (2007). My place in my world: literature for place- based environmental education. Early Childhood Education Journal, 35 (3), 285- 291.
73. Wondolleck J. M., &Yaffee S. L. (2000). Making collaborative work: Lessons from innovation in natural resource management. Washington DC: Island Press.
74. Yalcin- Ozdilek, S., & Sönmez B. (2006). Some properties of new nesting areas of sea turtles in northeastern Mediterranean situated on the extension of the Samandag Beach, Turkey. Journal of Environmental Biology, 27 (3), 537-544.
75. Young J. (2001). Linking Efs (Education for Sustainability) and Biodiversity? A UK-wide survey of the status of
76. education within local biodiversity action plans. Environmental Education Research, 7 (4), 439- 444.