Science and the Social Sciences

This article is about citizen scientists who are people who gather and analyze data and also participate in civic action. It is a merger of merges hard sciences with social sciences. There ... See More

This article is about citizen scientists who are people who gather and analyze data and also participate in civic action. It is a merger of merges hard sciences with social sciences. There are six goals of Project Citizen listed and explained in the article as well as a chart listing the typology of Project Citizen topics. Interestingly it can tie into STEM learning and environmental activism.

Structure for citizen science

Great outline for the structuring of citizen science projects and connecting to the curriculum. Identify the problem, select and research, develop a portfolio based on their research, presen... See More

Great outline for the structuring of citizen science projects and connecting to the curriculum. Identify the problem, select and research, develop a portfolio based on their research, present, and reflect. A very nice start. But the author also makes a point of reminding us not to force students into project in which they have little or no interest. Unfortunately, that could mean that in a typical class could have 6-10 projects going on simultaneously, each of which presumably would need to be coordinated with an external entity. Also, many of the projects I have worked on are location- and time-specific; others require an extended commitment of time, while others are a short-term affair. I am having a tough time understanding how I could adapt the framework to a classroom. It might be better suited to an independent study component of a class.