Students' and Teachers' Views on National Competitions on Observation Results of the Familiar Natural Environment and Students' Awareness of Observation: Comments on Competitions under the GLOBE Program, Japan

This study presents students' and teachers' views on competitions and students' trends in observational continuity through comments at the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) national competition on observing familiar natural environments. Both students' and teachers' views on competitions include student participation and presentations. The diversity of competitions is recognized by students. Their perspectives on competitions recognize natural environments familiar to students from other schools. Therefore, such competitions help students understand the diversity of natural environments on a nationwide scale; moreover, these competitions pique students' interest in activities and observational continuity across multiple school years. Furthermore, teachers have opportunities to reconsider their schools' observations during competitions. Teachers' reconsideration of observational activities is critical for students' continuity of observations. That continuity is reinforced by the acquisition of observation results and the formation of human relationships. Thus, teachers' reconsideration during competitions and students' reflections on human relationships are critical for the continuity of observations.