Page 88 - EdViewptsSpring2021

not able to identify them. Scientists be collected prior to spring migration.
will comb through data for entries they Citizen scientists need to be able to Technology is often
can use in their research on diversity identify birds; the project identifies pointed to as the rea-
in nature, and will sometimes confirm apps that can help.
identifications as well. BugGuide is son we are losing our
similar to iNaturalist, but focused natural curiosity, when
only on insects, spiders, and related Getting Started in reality it can be a
creatures. The citizen does not need
to know the identity of the critter when It is easy to jump into a citizen tool to grow inquisitive-
submitting it. Blue Woodlice Detectives science project! Begin by thinking ness at the same time
only looks at pillbugs (roly polys), as about goals for the project. Do you
scientists try to locate and study those want to enhance science curriculum, that we help scientists
with blue (yes, blue!) shell coloring. or engage students in enrichment collect data about our
activities? Are you hoping to awaken
students to the magic of science, or natural environment.
unmask the science in their everyday
Using Technology to Get life? Do you want to have students to complex and involve disciplines
Students Outside collect data outside or inside? Is beyond science.
Richard Louv, in 2005, coined the term parent or community involvement part
“nature-deficit disorder.” He described of your goal? Do you want to be able
the gradual substitution of screen time to compare data between classes? Making Connections
for outdoor time that characterizes the Or grades? Or across the district? Citizen science projects are
typical American childhood. During the Thinking about your goal will help you geared to broad audiences, and
pandemic that screen time increased identify a first project. consequently can be implemented
as classes left brick-and-mortar Journey North is a great starting place across generations. Invite parents to
buildings and became virtual. Citizen for seasonal projects that can be join younger students in collecting
science projects can capitalize on the completed by students in grades PreK data on bugs, watching squirrels, or
increased availability of technology to 12 and beyond. Their 20 projects baking sourdough bread. Community
while still getting students outside. And map migrations of species as well members can participate, collecting
they do not need to live in a rural area as phenology, the study of seasonal data they share with students,
to participate. changes. In Leaf Out, observers adopt communicating via Zoom or Google
Nature is abundant in urban a tree and visit it regularly, watching Meet. Publicizing the project through
environments - one just needs to buds open and the tree bloom. Frog local organizations such as senior
look for it. City Nature Challenge maps the start of mating season for citizen centers taps into a wealth of
takes place every spring, worldwide. frogs by listening to calls and using knowledge and energy and highlights
Over a 4-day period citizens take them for frog identification in early programs in schools. Local public
pictures of wild plants and animals spring. All of Journey North’s projects libraries are great partners in sharing
and submit them; identification occurs have clear guidelines and support information and providing resources
over the following 4 days. Participants materials to facilitate implementation. for research.
contribute to scientists’ understanding There are sites that catalog and We all want students, and parents
of biodiversity in urban environments provide links to hundreds of projects and community, to experience that
while competing for the most species around the world. SciStarter has a “sense of wonder” that Rachel Carson
collected during the challenge. Project Finder that searches their so eloquently describes in her book
Globe at Night is a citizen science database of 1500+ projects using by the same title. Technology is often
project studying night sky brightness. keywords and topics, as well as pointed to as the reason we are losing
Students use a computer or location, age, and amount of time one our natural curiosity, when in reality it
smartphone to take a picture of the wants to dedicate to data collection. can be a tool to grow inquisitiveness at
night sky and submit it to the project. The list produced has links to projects the same time that we help scientists
Data is collected internationally during accessible by logging in to SciStarter’s collect data about our natural
a span of days identified each month site or going directly to the project environment. With the added benefit
on the website. site. National Geographic and Cornell of school, family, and community
Annually the Cornell Lab of Lab of Ornithology, and EPA each interaction, a citizen science project
have links to projects, albeit fewer
Ornithology conducts the Great than SciStarter. Citizen Science is an easy way to involve students in
Backyard Bird Count in February. The links to government projects and real-world science. Try a project. You
project spans four days during which crowdsourcing, and even provides will be hooked, and enchanted, by the
people from all over the world count guidelines for creating a project. beauty and simplicity of science and
birds and report them to Cornell. Their Zooniverse is a great resource for nature.
goal is to better understand global bird indoor projects that range from simple
populations. The timing allows data to

Educational Viewpoints -86- Spring 2021