Cyberschool

We may be entering into a period of accelerated extinction of species that rivals the mass extinction between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras. Through this online module, students can explore some reasons for species extinctions, specifically the cheetah.

Using the website, students must determine what a species is and what an endangered species is, what makes a species endangered, and why ecologists and taxonomists are interested in this species. A series of color-coded downloadable online worksheets help students organize the data they gather. They must pass an online quiz to indicate that they are informed citizens before moving on to decide if the cheetah should be saved and if so, how. Answering these questions involves an understanding of ecology, taxonomy, economics and politics. The peer education system is the key to this project's success.