Citizen Science and Education Four signposts for practice Greg - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Citizen Science and Education Four signposts for practice Greg Mannion and Andy Ruck, University of Stirling

To effectively embed Citizen Science into education, we need to make it … Real Regular Responsive Relevant With/in Place

Citizen Science  “ Citizen Science projects actively involve citizens in scientific endeavour that generates new knowledge and understanding ”  “ Citizen Science projects have a genuine science outcome ”

Types of cit itizen science project Greater com ommunity invol in olvement Contributory Collaborative Co-created Problem identified by... Scientists Scientists Public Study designed by... Scientists Scientists Public and scientists Data collected by... Public Scientists and public Public and scientists Data analysed by... Scientists Scientists and public Public and scientists Results reported by... Scientists Scientists and public Public

Why now? • The public as resource / participant • Science community: outreach • New technologies: internet, smartphones • Environmental issues • Greenspace and wellbeing • Citizenship • STEM agenda : Formal-Informal Science and Learning Communities

(Potential) Benefits - More engaged pupils - Improved attainment – (espec. in STEM subjects) - Stronger interdisciplinary learning - Environmental stewardship, pro-environmental values, attitudes, knowledge, … and action - “ Connection to nature ” - Addressing complex environmental problems - Better environments, better environmental policies

To effectively embed Citizen Science into education, we need to make it … Regular Real Responsive Relevant With/in Place

- More Tim ime: “ working on the same project, same group was essential ” - Sustained Focus: “ Sustaining or building interest ” rather than simply “ stimulating interest ” - Repeat Vis isits – Teaching in Nature - Progression 3-18 CfE

• “ New knowle ledge and understanding ” • But.. .... .. not all ll about official use of data • In Involvement in in the whole le scie ientific process • “ Hands-on exp xperiences ” – dir irect exp xperience of phenomena

Local rele levance: • “ use th their ir own communit ity as s a so source – and lo locatio ion for r lea learnin ing ” More wid idely – • Glo lobal is issues – bio iodiv iversit ity, food – security, , habit itat lo loss, , clim limate change, , socia ial ju justic ice, , sustainabil ility Allo llowing young people to fin ind their ir • own areas of in interest

Plac lace: : • Not ju just “ objectively ” Not ambivalently • Proximity not sufficient. • lace-responsive pedagogy: Har Pla arness th the – dis istin inctive features of of a a plac lace in into teachin ing An affectiv ive dim imensio ion • Facil ilit itated by sig signif ific icant others • Cit Citiz izen Sc Scien ience in in a pla lace-based context xt: : • • community regeneration, sustainable responses, in interdisciplinary, problem- solving, g, in intergenerational dia ialogue, eco-social ju justice

To effectively embed Citizen Science into education, we need to make it … Greg Mannion Andy Ruck greg.mannion@stir.ac.uk a.t.ruck@stir.ac.uk