Incorporating Next Generation Science Standards into Citizen Science: Lessons Learned from NatureBridge

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) contain an important shift in science education policy, away from an exclusive focus on content toward active participation in the process of science. Because they are long-term and... [ view full abstract ]

The Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) contain an important shift in science education policy, away from an exclusive focus on content toward active participation in the process of science. Because they are long-term and involve hands-on data collection, citizen science projects provide an opportunity for K-12 learners to engage in the eight science practices defined in the NGSS. The practices are: (1) Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering), (2) Developing and using models, (3) Planning and carrying out investigations, (4) Analyzing and interpreting data, (5) Using mathematics and computational thinking, (6) Constructing explanations (for science) and designing solutions (for engineering), (7) Engaging in argument from evidence, and (8) Obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information. Aligning your citizen science effort with science standards may allow for greater integration of K-12 students. While many projects naturally incorporate several of these practices, others require careful planning and framing.

NatureBridge, an educational non-profit that delivers hands-on, residential environmental science programs in several national parks, is experimenting with incorporating practices (1), (3), (4), and (6) into our students’ experience as they engage in citizen science projects. We will share lessons learned from our attempts to weave NGSS practices into citizen science projects such as water quality monitoring, Sierra snowpack survey, and tracking ecological change after the removal of the Elwha Dam on the Olympic Peninsula.