Abstracts Category : Other

Evaluating the Impacts of a Classroom-based Citizen Science Project on Nature Connectedness, Science Identity, and Knowledge of Curricular Material

by Katherine A Williams

Environmental education programs seek to foster an appreciation for the natural world while introducing students to scientific thinking. Citizen science engages non-scientists in the systematic collection and analysis of data. The Betts Forest Landscape Ecology Lab combines both goals by inviting teachers in Corvallis, Oregon, and surrounding areas to participate in a classroom-based citizen science project with their students. Middle and high school students learn about hummingbird identification, the utility and necessity of pollinators, and hummingbird sighting data collection. This evaluative research aimed to answer this question: what is the impact of this program on students knowledge of hummingbirds, students science identity, and their connectedness to nature? Quantitative pre- and post-test questionnaires (n = 367) assessed the impacts of the program on these constructs. Following the project, qualitative interviews were conducted with participating teachers to elicit feedback to improve the project in future years. Results indicate that, while the project had a modest impact on students knowledge of hummingbirds, no impact on connectedness to nature, and a slightly negative impact on science identity, students felt motivated by the citizen science component of the project. Future implementations of the Hummingbird Project should connect students to scientists to maintain engagement in the data collection process.Advisors/Committee Members: Hall, Troy E. (advisor), Betts, Matt (committee member).