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Peer-reviewed article

Citizen science in digital worlds: the seduction of a temporary escape or a lifelong pursuit?

December 1, 2012 | Media and Technology, Public Programs

There is a vast terrain of emerging research that explores recent innovations in digital games, particularly as they relate to questions of teaching and learning science. One such game, Citizen Science, was developed to teach players about the practice of citizen science as well as lake ecology. Citizen science is a pedagogy that has a long history within the scientific community, engaging the public in ongoing community and environmental surveys to collect data for existing small-scale studies. More recently, citizen science has gained traction as an educational context for teaching and learning science in ways that connect to students' lives and interests. By placing citizen science within the realm of digital worlds, Matthew Gaydos and Kurt Squire invite new possibilities for knowledge to become more kinetic, moving in multiple directions. In this article we discuss some of the tensions we experienced as we explored the digital game, Citizen Science. We highlight questions about narrative and complexity, emergent game play and transfer to encourage thinking about the development and implementation of games such as Citizen Science.

TEAM MEMBERS

  • Deborah Tippins
    Author
    University of Georgia
  • Lucas Jensen
    Author
    University of Georgia
  • Citation

    ISSN : 1871-1502
    DOI : 10.1007/s11422-012-9463-6
    Publication Name: Cultural Studies of Science Education
    Volume: 7
    Number: 4
    Page Number: 851
    Resource Type: Research Products
    Discipline: Ecology, forestry, and agriculture | Education and learning science
    Audience: Middle School Children (11-13) | Youth/Teen (up to 17) | General Public | Educators/Teachers | Museum/ISE Professionals
    Environment Type: Media and Technology | Games, Simulations, and Interactives | Public Programs | Citizen Science Programs

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