Developing a Framework for Citizen Science in Education—Join the Conversation!

The tremendous growth in citizen science projects and practice coincides with a national call for more integrated, engaged, and authentic science learning. In an ideal world, K-12 teachers and out of school educators alike... [ view full abstract ]

The tremendous growth in citizen science projects and practice coincides with a national call for more integrated, engaged, and authentic science learning. In an ideal world, K-12 teachers and out of school educators alike would use participation in citizen science programs as a core strategy to achieve the full breadth of their learning outcomes. While some educators and some citizen science projects manage to achieve this ideal, doing so remains out of reach for most due in large part to isolation and limited resources. The Education Working Group of the Citizen Science Association proposes to use this symposium to invite the Citizen Science Association members, formal and informal educators, citizen science practitioners, and learning researchers to generate ideas to advance their draft Framework for the Establishment of Citizen Science Within the STEM Learning Ecosystem. Our purpose is to inspire growth and innovation in the use of citizen science in education to achieve a growing body of learning outcomes for an increasingly diverse audience of learners and participants. This symposium directly addresses the theme of Making Education and Lifelong Learning Connections (K-12, university, informal).

In this symposium, working group members will present a draft case statement addressing the relevant movements in education, the cultural forces and factors influencing youth and adult learners, formal educators, and out-of-school educators. We will then engage the audience in small group work to solicit characteristics of exemplary practice from their own work—a conversation we will continue in a breakout session on day two.

Incorporating the ideas shared by Citizen Science Association members at this conference, the Education Working Group will revise the presented case statement and framework, and draft a research and development agenda for citizen science and STEM education.