ERIC Number: EJ1256090
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2020
Pages: 40
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1050-8406
EISSN: N/A
For Science and Self: Youth Interactions with Data in Community and Citizen Science
Harris, Emily M.; Dixon, Colin G. H.; Bird, Erin Bridges; Ballard, Heidi L.
Journal of the Learning Sciences, v29 n2 p224-263 2020
In youth-focused community and citizen (YCCS) youth in classrooms and community-based programs produce data that scientists, resource managers and community members will use. This "nested" data situates learners' scientific activity within larger datasets, projects, and communities, with consequences for youth agency. To document opportunities for agentive learning with data in YCCS, we report on how youth interact with data across eight school and community-based project sites and how youth talk about their data and work. From analysis of 54 participant interviews, we found that youth perceived the data they produced as being used for: (1) broader scientific work, (2) their own learning, and (3) community endeavors. Nested uses of data were most meaningful when youth interacted with end users, were exposed to the larger datasets to which they contributed, or took action linked to data. Not all youth saw, believed, or valued that data would be used by others. Framing of task and purpose, nature of engagement with community users, data production protocols, and level of emphasis on youth-identified questions may contribute to youth perceptions and can foster or undermine conditions for learner agency. The results shed light on when and how conditions for expansive learning and agency get established.
Descriptors: Data Collection, Citizen Participation, Scientific Research, Science Education, Science Activities, Student Attitudes, Student Empowerment, Data Use, Youth, Scientists, Interaction, Youth Programs, School Activities
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A