Citizen science in educational settings and outreach activities
| Site: | European Citizen Science Academy (ECS academy) |
| Course: | Supporting Sustainable Institutional Changes to Promote Citizen Science |
| Book: | Citizen science in educational settings and outreach activities |
| Printed by: | Guest user |
| Date: | Saturday, 23 November 2024, 9:22 AM |
Description
This module equips learners with the knowledge to effectively integrate CS into school curricula and public outreach. It guides them through the development of communication strategies, leveraging storytelling and various tools to engage with stakeholders and the broader community, while also emphasizing collaboration with schools for educational CS projects. By incorporating elements such as curriculum alignment and problem-based learning, learners learn to create educational experiences that enhance scientific literacy and foster environmental awareness. The program culminates with an interactive session where learners create detailed communication plans, ensuring they can convey their projects' objectives compellingly and foster enduring community connections.
1. Collaborating with schools for effective citizen science engagement
This module focuses on integrating CS projects into school curricula, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of working with students. It emphasizes the need for adapting activities to suit students’ abilities and ensuring that these activities align with educational goals and contribute to the overarching research objectives. The module provides examples of successful school-based projects, such as the Mass Experiments in Denmark, and discusses design principles for curriculum-based citizen science, including problem-based learning and teacher collaboration, highlighting the diverse learning outcomes achievable through such engagements.
Module description:|
What? |
How? |
Why? |
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Why is it important to learn about collaboration with schools in CS? |
Engaging in CS within school settings can yield scientific results, and schools, educators, and students can experience valuable advantages by participating |
Explaining to the learners why it is important to consider schools in CS projects |
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Example of a successful school-based project: The Mass Experiments in Denmark |
Describing the idea behind the Mass Experiment in Denmark and the 2023 experiments on microfauna |
Demonstrating that citizen science can successfully be integrated into schools and curricula |
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The impact of CS projects in schools such the Mass Experiments |
Describing the benefit of integrating CS into schools in terms of scientific and educational impact: authentic science experience, scientific literacy, inquiry-based learning |
Demonstrating that CS holds great promise for school collaboration |
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Collaborating with schools for effective citizen science engagement |
Outlining four basic values of CS in schools: Enhanced learning and understanding of science, Community engagement and civic responsibility, Scientific literacy, informed decisions, and STEM careers, and Environmental awareness and sustainable practices |
Encouraging the learners to reflect over important values involved in engaging with schools to do citizen science |
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Two other examples of CS projects in schools: The LETS Study Leysin and ReGAME |
Introducing two other CS projects in school settings: the teacher-initiated LETS Study Leysin and the Research-Enabling Game-Based Education (ReGAME) |
Demonstrating that there are various ways to integrate CS in schools |
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Guiding design principles for CS in schools |
Introducing three basic design principles for CS in schools: Curriculum alignment, Problem-based learning (PBL) design, and Collaboration with teachers (teachers are important gatekeepers, team leaders, and data quality filters) |
Allowing learners to understand three important design principles for CS in schools |
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Developing materials for education and learning opportunities in CS |
Addressing three relevant socio-cognitive contexts for educational material: The science context, the context of participation, and the project-specific context |
Encouraging reflection on relevant contexts for educational and learning material |
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Recognizing the diversity of learning outcomes |
Explaining that learners can acquire a range of skills and knowledge from scientific understanding and skills to collaboration, empowerment, and advocacy |
Enabling learners to recognize the diversity of learning outcomes from CS in schools |
Slide (available in slide deck)
2. Communication and engagement in citizen science
This module equips learners with strategies for designing and executing communication and engagement activities in CS projects. It underscores the importance of such activities in enhancing data quality, motivating learners, and raising public awareness about CS. The module delves into the creation of effective communication plans, including identifying project aims, engagement levels, and target audiences, and utilizing diverse tactics like digital storytelling and gamification. Learners are taught how to design compelling stories to clearly convey project objectives and processes, fostering a strong sense of community and stakeholder connection.
Module description:|
What? |
How? |
Why? |
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What makes communication and engagement with learners in CS crucial? |
Elaborating on three potential outcomes of communication and engagement in CS projects: Enhanced data quality and reliability, Motivation and retention, and Public awareness and impact |
Explaining the key take-aways to the learners: Effective communication and engagement ensures common understanding of goals, methods, and process, while also building a sense of community |
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Building blocks of a communication plan |
Describing the six building blocks of a CS communication plan: Determine project aims, Define the level of engagement, Specify the target audience, Understand audience motivations, Engage in various ways, and Evaluate and improve the materials |
Allowing learners to contemplate the six building clocks in a communication plan |
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Tactics and tools for communicating with learners, stakeholders, and the public |
Introducing tactics and tools for communication: Existing networks, Fun and enjoyable experiences, Social media, Digital storytelling, Gamification, and Project ambassadors |
Enabling learners to contemplate different tactics and tools for communication |
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Elements of a good story |
Using storytelling (incl. Digital storytelling) to explain expectations, purpose, and skills in a project. Elements of a good story: Structure, character, setting, authenticity, accessible language, and message |
Enabling learners to use basic storytelling techniques to communicate their project |
Slide (available in slide deck)
3. Interactive session: Crafting narratives and communication strategies in citizen science
This interactive session offers learners the choice between two tasks focused on enhancing communication in CS: crafting a compelling story for a project or selecting and diving into communication tactics and tools. Learners will be encouraged to develop a structured story or a detailed communication strategy that can be applied to enhance engagement in their CS projects. They will gain insights into the narrative and visual representation of their project’s story or the practical use of communication tools to engage diverse audiences effectively.
Module description:|
What? |
How? |
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Introduction |
Present the two task options and distribute handouts with instructions and examples. Provide learners with large sheets of paper for their work and markers or other drawing tools (online if necessary). |
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Task selection and planning |
Divide learners into small groups or set them up to work individually. Learners choose one of the two tasks: developing a story or selecting communication tactics. They brainstorm key elements or tactics/tools they wish to focus on. |
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Task execution |
For the storytelling task, learners sketch out the narrative of their chosen citizen science project, focusing on structure, characters, setting, and message. For the communication strategies task, learners list and elaborate on selected tactics and tools, considering how they would apply to a specific citizen science initiative. |
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Sharing and feedback |
Learners briefly present their stories or communication plans, highlighting the rationale behind their choices. Peers provide feedback, focusing on the clarity, engagement potential, and comprehensiveness of the narratives or communication strategies. |
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Conclusion |
Summarize the importance of storytelling and strategic communication in citizen science. Encourage learners to incorporate these elements into their actual citizen science projects. |
Slide (available in slide deck)