Science Curriculum Development for Citizen Science Investigations

Issued by University of New Hampshire

The recipient of this badge successfully completed 65 hours of instructor-led professional development and demonstrated competency in field-based citizen science instructional methods and learning concepts. Sessions provided an overview of NGSS-aligned science instruction and citizen science methods, experience carrying out a citizen science investigation applying the 8 NGSS science practices (e.g., data analysis), and tools and process for designing K-12 standards-based science curriculum.

Type Learning
Level Advanced
Time Days

Additional Details

Skills

Citizen Science
Communication
Curriculum Design
Data Analysis
Data Collection
Data Interpretation
field-based protocols
integration of citizen science elements for student learning
Partnership
science curriculum
Science Teaching
Teamwork

Earning Criteria

The SITES multi-week program requires 42 hours of class time plus 23 hours of self-paced work. Students attend in-person workshops in the summer and throughout the academic year. Other required coursework includes citizen science project design and lesson sequence development and enactment of a field-based citizen science curriculum unit aligned with the NGSS standards. Course completion is dependent on successful attendance in workshops and satisfactory completion of course assignments.
Students submit their SITES Project Planning Guide (see SITES Curriculum Workbook resource guide) at least four times throughout the school year and receive written feedback and in-person coaching from instructors to support modifications and improvements to their citizen science project design and curriculum.
For the final SITES assignment students must complete and present a field-based citizen science curriculum unit aligned with the NGSS standards and the SITES Curriculum Workbook resource guide. Furthermore, they are expected to teach their self-designed unit to their students before course completion.