| Title: |
Becoming a Facilitator through Co-Design: A Community of Practice Approach for Facilitator Engagement in a Youth-Centric Citizen Science Initiative |
| Language: |
English |
| Authors: |
Yaela N. Golumbic (ORCID 0000-0002-8523-5153); Idit Adler (ORCID 0000-0002-5343-0405); Neta Gutman; Tomer Gueta (ORCID 0000-0003-1557-8596); Frida Ben-Ami (ORCID 0000-0002-1978-5659) |
| Source: |
International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement. 2025 15(3):493-508. |
| Availability: |
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: |
Y |
| Page Count: |
16 |
| Publication Date: |
2025 |
| Document Type: |
Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive |
| Descriptors: |
Communities of Practice; Facilitators (Individuals); Youth; Citizen Participation; Scientific Research; Science Education; Science Projects; Environmental Education; Science Process Skills; Skill Development; Foreign Countries; Counselors |
| Geographic Terms: |
Israel |
| DOI: |
10.1080/21548455.2025.2488406 |
| ISSN: |
2154-8455; 2154-8463 |
| Abstract: |
Engaging youth in citizen science projects has multiple benefits. Yet, numerous challenges, such as lack of alignment between project goal and youth interest, hinder youth wider engagement. In this paper, we suggest a model for engaging volunteers in facilitator roles, warranting positive outcomes for youth engagement in citizen science projects. Grounded in a community of practice approach, our model involves facilitators, with experience in youth engagement, as co-designers from project onset. The facilitators' engagement in the co-design process triggers rich interactions among project designers, enables the facilitators to leverage their expertise in shaping and refining the project, and ensures its youth-centric design. To demonstrate the utility and contribution of our model, we present a case study of 13 nature youth counselors from a nature protection organization, engaged as facilitators in a biodiversity citizen science project. Our paper offers a new perspective on facilitators' roles and contribution to citizen science initiatives. It provides a model for facilitator engagement in a youth-centric citizen science initiative, reveals ways in which facilitators enrich the design and sustainability of the project, and calls for wider adaptation of such a role for the engagement of youth within the citizen science landscape. |
| Abstractor: |
As Provided |
| Entry Date: |
2025 |
| Accession Number: |
EJ1484675 |
| Database: |
ERIC |