Teaching-learning sequences with citizen science in schools

• Grant number: 25/03708-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2025
• End date: June 30, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Humanities - Education - Educational Teaching and Learning
• Principal Investigator: Natalia Pirani Ghilardi-Lopes
• Grantee: Natalia Pirani Ghilardi-Lopes
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Janaina Dutra Gonzalez ; João Victor Andrade de Lacerda ; Joselaine Setlik ; Jussara Almeida Bezerra ; Laura Braga de Oliveira ; Sheina Koffler
• Associated research grant: 22/06862-3 - Open and citizen science at schools, AP.EP

Abstract

The project "Teaching-Learning Sequences with Citizen Science" (TLSCS) aims to integrate citizen science into the school curriculum to enhance students' scientific literacy and contribute to authentic scientific research. This process will be carried out through the co-production of educational sequences between elementary education teachers and undergraduate research students, aligned with the curriculum and interesting enough to maintain student engagement while producing reliable data. The research initially intends to co-produce and test at least four TLSCS focused on socio-environmental issues relevant to the school context. Each TLSCS will include collaboratively developed citizen science protocols, which will be tested in a school environment to ensure their feasibility and effectiveness in promoting meaningful learning. Expected outcomes of the project include the development of scientific and technological skills in students, such as the ability to formulate questions, plan and conduct investigations, analyze data, and communicate findings. Additionally, it seeks to increase students' motivation for science and encourage pro-environmental behaviors. The methodology adopted will involve defining clear research questions, producing educational materials, developing sampling protocols suitable for the students' ages, and proposing activities that stimulate scientific reflection and criticism. The project phases include the co-production of TLSCS, pilot tests in schools, evaluation of the learning provided, and publication of materials and results in open data repositories such as Zenodo. Each stage will be submitted for the necessary ethical approval, ensuring compliance with research standards involving human participants. The initiative will also be promoted at national and international scientific events, contributing to the advancement of citizen science in education and environmental research. This project represents an important step in integrating scientific research into elementary education, offering students the opportunity to actively participate in the scientific process and contribute to socially and environmentally relevant issues. (AU)