Grass Gazers: Using citizen science as a tool to facilitate practical and online science learning for secondary school students during the COVID‐19 lockdown

Abstract

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has impacted educational systems worldwide during 2020, including primary and secondary schooling. To enable students of a local secondary school in Brisbane, Queensland, to continue with their practical agricultural science learning and facilitate online learning, a “Grass Gazers” citizen science scoping project was designed and rapidly implemented as a collaboration between the school and a multidisciplinary university research group focused on pollen allergy. Here, we reflect on the process of developing and implementing this project from the perspective of the school and the university. A learning package including modules on pollen identification, tracking grass species, measuring field greenness, using a citizen science data entry platform, forensic palynology, as well as video guides, risk assessment and feedback forms were generated. Junior agriculture science students participated in the learning via online lessons and independent data collection in their own local neighborhood and/or school grounds situated within urban environments. The university research group and school coordinator, operating in their own distributed work environments, had to develop, source, adopt, and/or adapt material rapidly to meet the unique requirements of the project. The experience allowed two‐way knowledge exchange between the secondary and tertiary education sectors. Participating students were introduced to real‐world research and were able to engage in outdoor learning during a time when online, indoor, desk‐based learning dominated their studies. The unique context of restrictions imposed by the social isolation policies, as well as government Public Health and Department of Education directives, allowed the team to respond by adapting teaching and research activity to develop and trial learning modules and citizen science tools. The project provided a focus to motivate and connect teachers, academic staff, and school students during a difficult circumstance. Extension of this citizen project for the purposes of research and secondary school learning has the potential to offer ongoing benefits for grassland ecology data acquisition and student exposure to real‐world science.

Validity and Practicality of Project-Based e-Student Worksheet on Thermochemical Materials to Improve Learning Outcomes

“…In this study, students worked on projects related to everyday life, namely, they did simple projects regarding exothermic reactions, endothermic reactions, and simple calorimeters using tools and materials that are easily found in the environment. Real learning and engaging in outdoor learning during online learning using electronics during the Covid-19 pandemic helps students learn science directly and motivates and builds close relationships between teachers and students during difficult circumstances (Haeften et al, 2021). One way to make students active and think critically is through direct learning experiences, such as doing practicum (Hardeli et al, 2022).…”

‘Phytopathological strolls’ in the dual context of COVID-19 lockdown and IYPH2020: transforming constraints into an opportunity for public education about plant pathogens

“…The COVID-19 lockdowns placed the spotlight on nature within urban areas, encouraging people to take a fresh look at the green areas around them. They have had a marked effect on citizen science projects, in Australia and South Africa for example, increasing the public response to initiatives for obtaining data on birds (Reside et al, 2020; Rose et al, 2020) or the flowering behaviour of grasses (Haeften et al, 2020). Moreover, bird watching was found to bring happiness to the observers in this difficult context (Nairn, 2020).…”

“Phytopathological strolls” in the dual context of COVID‐19 lockdown and IYPH2020: Transforming constraints into an opportunity for public education about plant pathogens

“…The COVID‐19 lockdowns placed the spotlight on nature within urban areas, encouraging people to take a fresh look at the green areas around them. They have had a marked effect on citizen science projects, in Australia and South Africa for example, increasing the public response to initiatives for obtaining data on birds (Reside et al, 2020; Rose et al, 2020) or the flowering behaviour of grasses (Van Haeften et al, 2021). Moreover, bird watching was found to bring happiness to the observers in this difficult context (Nairn, 2020).…”