Citizen Science & Environmental Education for Sustainability-Online training course: Module 4 - Citizen Science and school curricula in the context of Environmnental Education/ Education for Sustainable Development

The fourth module of the Training Course examines the relationship between Citizen Science (CS) and education, focussing particularly on the possibilities of collaboration with Environmental Education (EE) and Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). First the points where CS converges with EE/ESD are analysed as well as their common characteristics. This is followed by a description of possible ways of integrating CS into school curricula, highlighting the learning and other benefits derived from such a perspective. The conditions that define an effective and meaningful integration of CS into school curricula are also discussed. Finally, the positive effects of integrating CS into education and of connecting it with EE/ESD in school practice are shown .The module closes with a reference to examples of CS programmes that have been implemented in schools and a case study of a CS educational programme based on the Pl@ntnet Citizen Observatory All the above are approached in Module 1 as answers to the following questions:

✓ Where does Citizen Science converge with Environmental Education for Sustainability?

✓ What are the common characteristics of Environmental Education for Sustainability and Citizen Science?

✓ In what ways can Citizen Science be integrated into EE/ESD actions and programmes?

✓ What are the learning benefits from integrating Citizen Science into school curricula?

✓ What are the conditions for an effective and meaningful integration of Citizen Science into school practices?

✓ What are the co-benefits for CS from its integration into school curricula?

✓ Are there examples of CS programmes implemented in schools?