Facilitator GuideFor educators

Facilitator Guide

How to use the Dune Health Survey A5 Booklet alongside this portal — session plans, booklet-to-app mapping, tips, and bad-weather contingencies for all three survey tiers.

The Booklet

8-page A5 field booklet — the primary recording tool at the site. Print one per student.

This Portal

Used before and after the visit for preparation, practice, and data verification.

The Site

Where the real survey happens. Back Beach / Paritūtū recommended for New Plymouth.

Session Plans by Tier

Each plan covers Before Visit, At the Site, and After Visit — with exact booklet page references and matching app tools for every step.

Quick Scan

Booklet pages: Cover, p2, p3, p6

60–75 min totalAny

Open the portal home page — read the Dune Zones explainer together as a class.

Home → Learn section p7 Dune Zone Diagram

Work through the Scoring Scale Explainer: students practise scoring 4 pressure scenarios before going to the field.

Scoring Scale Explainer p7 Pressure Scoring Scale

Complete the Quick Scan Traffic Light tool using a hypothetical 'degraded beach' scenario so students understand the 0–5 scale.

Quick Scan Traffic Light p3 Pressure Indicators

Print one A5 booklet per student or pair. Students fill in their name and select the Quick tier on the cover.

Print from Worksheet Pack Cover

Facilitator Tips

•Assign pairs rather than individuals — one person scores, one records evidence in the notes box.
•The Quick Scan Traffic Light tool on the website mirrors the booklet's p6 traffic light exactly — use it as a class check at the end.
•If time is short, skip the After Visit session and use the Survey Walkthrough as homework.

Bad-Weather Contingency

Replace the site visit with the Scoring Scale Explainer using the Back Beach Adapted DCI Scenario. Students score a virtual survey from scenario descriptions and compare results as a class.

Standard DCI

Booklet pages: Cover, p2, p3, p4, p6, p7

90–120 min totalGroups of 3–4

Complete the full Digital Site Form as a class walkthrough — explain each field and why it matters.

Digital Site Form p2 Site & Conditions

Work through the Scoring Scale Explainer for both Pressure AND State indicators (all 8 scenarios).

Scoring Scale Explainer p7 Pressure & State Scoring Scales

Use the Plant ID Checklist to practise identifying the 12 native and 10 exotic species before the visit. Focus on the 5 most likely at your site.

Plant ID Checklist p4 Plant ID Checklist

Assign roles within each group: Site Recorder (p2), Pressure Scorer (p3), State Scorer (p4), Plant Checker (p4), Photographer.

Survey Walkthrough Stepper — step 1 Cover — Assessor field

Print booklets. Students pre-fill site name, date, tier (Standard), and assessor name.

Worksheet Pack Cover, p2

Facilitator Tips

•The Standard DCI adds State Indicators (p4) which require more observation time — allow 5 minutes for the bird observation tip (5 min, scan for NZ dotterel, oystercatcher, white-fronted tern, pīwakawaka, tūī).
•Reptile tip from the booklet: check under driftwood and debris. Score 3 if none are seen.
•The Plant ID Checklist tool on the website shows iNaturalist photos for each species — use it on a shared screen during the pre-visit session to build recognition.
•Groups of 3–4 work well: one person per role means all four pages are completed simultaneously at the site.

Bad-Weather Contingency

Run the full Standard DCI as a classroom exercise using the Back Beach Adapted DCI Scenario. Assign groups different 'evidence packages' (printed scenario cards) and have them score independently, then compare. Use the DCI Calculator to verify.

Full Transect

Booklet pages: All pages (p1–p8)

2–3 hours totalGroups of 4–5

Complete all pre-visit steps from the Standard DCI session plan above.

All pre-visit tools p2–p4

Use the Transect Zone Builder to practise entering species and % cover data for a hypothetical transect.

Transect Zone Builder p5 Transect Zone Survey

Review the Back Beach Site Profile — geology timeline, dune zones, and species list (if surveying Back Beach).

Back Beach Site Profile p7 Dune Zone Diagram

Assign an additional Transect Recorder role per group. Brief them on p5: record start/end metres, species, % cover, native?, and notes per zone.

Transect Zone Builder walkthrough p5 Transect Zones

Prepare equipment: measuring tape (30–50 m), GPS device or phone, camera, pencils (not pens — wind).

Four-Station Circuit guide (equipment list) p2 Site Information

Facilitator Tips

•The Full Transect requires a measuring tape. Assign the Transect Recorder role to a student who is confident with distance estimation.
•For Back Beach: the transect from strandline to backdune is approximately 40–60 m. The cliff face limits the backdune zone — record this as a note on p5.
•The Transect Zone Builder on the website generates a stacked bar chart instantly — project this in the debrief to show the class how zone composition varies.
•Allow extra time for the site sketch on p8 — this is often the most memorable part of the field experience and worth 10 minutes of dedicated time.

Bad-Weather Contingency

Use the Transect Zone Builder with a pre-loaded hypothetical dataset. Students adjust species % cover values and observe how the stacked bar chart changes. Pair with the Scoring Scale Explainer for a full indoor DCI exercise.