Community and citizen science in schools

Nested inquiries, productive tensions, and the role of communities

Bibliographic Data

ID21335848
AuthorsHeidi L Ballard (0000-0002-7841-8293, University of California, Davis, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume51
Issue5
Pages913-919
Publication date2023-10-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInstructional Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0020-4277 • E-ISSN: 1573-1952
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s11251-023-09643-7
OpenAlexW4386957082
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited20

With the rapid proliferation of citizen science and other participatory approaches to scientific research in recent years has come an expansion of interest in the learning opportunities this approach may afford for learners of all ages, in informal settings, but especially in schools (Bonney et al., 2014 ; NAS, 2018). Empirical research on the impacts of, and effective design practices for, citizen science in formal school settings is only just recently emerging as a field of inquiry in the learning sciences, and in science and environmental education. This special issue crucially begins to fill an important gap, by moving beyond conceptual discussions of the theoretical potential for K-12 student learning through citizen science, to report detailed studies and findings from myriad cases of school participation in citizen science. In this special issue we learn (1) how this work can be done well , including the conditions and contexts, the processes and structures, as well as (2) key considerations for teachers, scientists, and other practitioners to design citizen science and similar projects that not only support and enhance learning for students, but advance authentic scientific research in ways that can be maintained and sustained rather than fizzle and burn out

Biology · Citizen science · Community engagement · Educational psychology · Pedagogy · Political science · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Diverse Educational Innovations Studies · Service-Learning and Community Engagement

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access