News . Best Practices Examining biodiversity of Amazon forest around the school with a Citizen Science project (Best Practice Brazil)
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This reports on best practice in an open schooling initiative developed by UFAM University and a secondary school in Amazonas State in Brazil. It was supported by the Open University OU-UK.
Care: The real problem that engaged students was to protect the biodiversity of a native forest, which was part of the school using a citizen-science platform to share photos, discuss issues and obtain feedback.
Know: Participants were 15 students who developed their knowledge on biodiversity, identification of plants.
DO: They formed recommendations for environmental protection. The project on citizen science was integrated with the curriculum, supported by the science teacher and an academic researcher in science.
Findings: Open schooling supported by Citizen Science is a way of changing the role of school, from a place where students learn contents passively to where they can learn citizenship while learning school subjects. Additionally, open schooling gives them opportunity to interact with scientists.
Outcomes: The results indicated that students enjoyed the approach and besides learning about plants. According to the teacher’s note students were able to identified environmental problems caused by the community surrounding the school area. They also discussed the need for more public policy to foster more active community participation in solving the issues using science.
Find out more here: Our report.