Look, listen, and record. It is by filling in a form that you can help fill up the databanks of various scientific research studies. Called citizen science, participation in gathering data or analyzing results can help move large-scale research forward at a quicker rate.
Studies examining the benefits of citizen scientist participation revealed a positive shift in the general attitudes towards science, and a better understanding of the nature of science as well as the scientific process. These aspects are imperative in generating a scientifically literate community.
Knowledge acquisition of the actual subject matter is dependent on the research design. Just as sound research methodologies are imperative to generating solid conclusions, a well-designed citizen science project that allows for an exchange of information between the participants and the research experts, an acknowledgment of the volunteers’ efforts, and a sense of achievement in the completion of the study. Engagement devices such as gamification and robust training were aspects that helped increase participant engagement and accuracy of their measurements.
Citizen science can happen in the classroom, and the project needs to be chosen to fit the students, the timeframe, and the teacher. Explore Canadian citizen science projects here:
One of my fave mobile apps: Insight App (link)
Spoiler Alert
This aligns very closely with my upcoming A01 mobile analysis.
References
Aristeidou, M., & Herodotou, C. (2020). Online citizen science: A systematic review of effects on learning and scientific literacy. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 5(1), 1-12. http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.5334/cstp.224
Lin Hunter, D.E., Newman, G.J. and Balgopal, M.M., 2020. Citizen Scientist or Citizen Technician: A Case Study of Communication on One Citizen Science Platform. Citizen Science: Theory and Practice, 5(1), p.17. DOI: http://doi.org/10.5334/cstp.261
SciStarter. (2021, January 10). Designing Citizen Science Projects for Everyone. Science Connected Magazine. https://magazine.scienceconnected.org/2021/01/designing-citizen-science-projects-for-everyone/
Spiers, H., Swanson, A., Fortson, L., Simmons, B., Trouille, L., Blickhan, S., & Lintott, C. (2019). Everyone counts? Design considerations in online citizen science. Journal of Science Communication, 18(01), A04. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.18010204
Hi all,
Just a note: the Insight app is currently only available on Apple products.
If you are ready to participate in a citizen science event, then please join the Great Backyard Bird Count! https://www.birdcount.org/
This happens in the early ‘spring’, which is February 12–15, 2021. Spend 15 min a day with an expert guide on your mobile device to help gather data for this annual wild bird census!
This is a very nice resource, thank you for sharing. It really makes learning much more personal and relevant when students can contribute to actual studies and real time data.
Not sure if this applies on the same lines, but about 11 years ago, I signed up for the ‘BC Generations Project’ which is a huge multi year medical study that looks at multiple factors such as lifestyle, occupations, residence locations, etc., compares the data to medical records, and then looks at health outcomes. They recruited about 30 000 people ages 35 – 69, and the study will carry on over 50 years. Other than completing the occasional survey, I don’t have much direct involvement but it is still gratifying to know that I am being part of a scientific study that will be used to help benefit the health of future generations.
Here is the link to the BC Generations project website – I meant to add it to my post
https://www.bcgenerationsproject.ca/
Hi Marlis,
What an amazing project to participate in! Thank you for sharing. There have been other “cohort” studies that have helped in correlational studies. Here’s more on this type of research: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/281703?c=917851399000
This is awesome Evelyne. What a great way to take student curiosity and a mobile device to engage in inquiry- based learning.