Citizen Science: An Opportunity for Learning in the Networked Society

Ornit Sagy, Yaela Naomi Golumbic, Maya Benichou, Osnat Atias, Hana Manor Braham, Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Yael Kali, Dani Ben-Zvi, Yotam Hod, Dror Angel

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

Abstract

Seeking to promote science communication, civic engagement, and informal education, citizen science is a genre of research that connects scientists and non-scientists around projects involving science. This meeting point creates opportunities for potential benefits to both sides. Scientists may advance their research and obtain prestigious funding while non-scientists stand to gain enjoyment, new skills, and knowledge. To learn more how these inspiring outcomes can be promoted, we conceptualize citizen science and its myriad stakeholders as an ecology. We complement this metaphor with the term mutualism to express our desire for interactions in which all parties benefit from their involvement and propose a Mutualistic Ecology of Citizen Science (MECS) as an analytic framework that can potentially contribute to the design and conceptualization of learning in citizen science projects. In this chapter, we operationalize this framework, using four lenses that span several disciplines to look at potential benefits to different participants.
Original languageAmerican English
Title of host publicationLearning In a Networked Society
Subtitle of host publicationSpontaneous and Designed Technology Enhanced Learning Communities
EditorsYael Kali, Ayelet Baram-Tsabari, Amit M. Schejter
Place of PublicationCham
Pages97-115
Number of pages19
Volume17
DOIs
StatePublished - 2019

Publication series

NameComputer-Supported Collaborative Learning Series
PublisherSpringer Cham

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