Welcome! Thanks for viewing the video about Citizen SciGirls. We welcome all comments, questions, and feedback about our project. As this project is complete we're particularly interested in hearing about audiences that would be interested in this research and other projects that are looking at the role of video in engaging youth in informal education experiences.

The series of SciGirls episodes on Citizen Science was a rich collaboration with the Citizen Science group at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and with six different CS programs across the nation. It was a tremendously exciting learning experience for all of us on the SciGirls production team. It also afforded us the opportunity to collaborate on a unique, controlled experimental evaluation of how media can stimulate and enhance a live hands-on citizen science experience. (See http://citizenscience.org/2016/12/06/research-s... ) With the myriad ways that young people can access video today -- on their tablets and smart phones, as well as traditional television -- video can be an even more important component of STEM learning. While we have always known that video can produce both interest and learning, it has not been clear how video can contribute to a richer and deeper hands-on inquiry experience. This research demonstrates the power of this synergy. We hope STEM educators may be inspired to find other ways to integrate video into their hands-on STEM activities, and we look forward to the discussions this week. - Richard Hudson, Executive Producer

This is great! The study design and results of the control and treatment groups are really interesting. I'm curious to know how closely tied the FrogWatch sessions were with the SciGirls media, in terms of content and/or other programming attributes. In other words, do you think other existing citizen science programs could have similar success by leveraging the same SciGirls media (assuming permissions)? Is this a possible avenue for scaling up? Or do you envision replication involving citizen science programs developing their own customized video content?

As Sarah mentions, the treatment group in the evaluation watched two other episodes besides the one showcasing Frog Watch, which they then did. The control group only did the live project activity.

Each episode of the series features a different group of girls and a different Citizen Science project. And in each episode, we intentionally introduced the basic idea of participatory, Citizen Science. That is perhaps why the treatment group demonstrated a deeper understanding of what citizen science is than the control group, which only took part in the hands-on training and data-gathering. (The control group subjects had the opportunity to watch the videos after their experience, and were evaluated a second time as part of the study.)

So we would imagine that the episodes would serve any educator who wanted to introduce youth to citizen science, regardless of what their project might be.

The other useful part of the episodes is the extension activity. In some of the episodes, the girls created a presentation about their research and shared it with the public (Frogwatch: https://goo.gl/f7Yyh6 ). In other episodes, the girls conducted a related inquiry that they designed themselves (Monarch Watch project: https://goo.gl/acKffg ). We believe such extension activities can give added meaning and value to the citizen science data gathering and reporting.

We very much look forward to hearing from people guiding youth in citizen science experiences about who may use these videos.

They are universally accessible: on PBS Learning Media, on the SciGirls website, and even on a YouTube channel. Girls (and boys!) can watch the episodes on their tablets or smartphones as part of a live CS experience. We'd love reports from the field on how this works! - Richard

I admit that I've been a fan of SciGirls for a while now. :) The SciGirls show is so compelling. I love the idea of diverse girls, working together, to solve a problem that demands scientific thinking, and the emphasis on citizen science is empowering. I'm wondering: How long did each project last? Has your team been able to track the girls over time? What happens to their long-term interests, if anything? I study science identity, and "recognition by others" is a big part of developing and sustaining science identity. The video component of this really showcases girls' scientific thinking in the best possible way, and is a stunning example of garnering "recognition by others". I'm interested in the girl participants as well as those who watch(ed) the program regularly. What a wonderful example of the power of video!

The published research on SciGirls Season 3 includes a lengthy discussion of "self-efficacy," which is key to the development of a science identity. You can find the report here: 

http://theoryandpractice.citizenscienceassociat...

The research was a controlled study of two groups of viewers: one group watched SciGirls media prior to doing the Frogwatch investigation; the control only took part in the Frogwatch investigation, with introduction by the instructor.

In addition to the findings mentioned in the video, Barbara Flagg wrote;

Within the treatment group that was exposed to SciGirls, minority girls demonstrated significantly higher interest than non-minorities in finding out more about other citizen science projects; greater likelihood to look for a future citizen science project to do; and stronger belief in their efficacy to be good at doing other citizen science projects. 

She also notes that this is a finding worthy of further study!

 

 

Richard-- I will definitely look at the report-- thanks! Great work, all around.

This sounds like a great project, and your video is really compelling too. Did you talk with the girls at all about their reactions to the videos? Curious to know if (aside from the information conveyed about citsci) any particular elements really resonated with them and maybe contributed to their increased engagement with the Frogwatch activity.

The Season 3 research (see the link earlier in this thread) focused very specifically on engagement and understanding of citizen science. We attributed the engagement to the research-based strategies that we use in all of our SciGirls work, which we call "The SciGirls Seven." (See http://www.scigirlsconnect.org/scigirls/ )

An earlier evaluation analyzed how viewer comments about the episodes aligned with some these strategies:

• One strategy suggested that girls are motivated by projects they find personally relevant and meaningful. More than half (55%) of the SciGirls viewers felt the engineering design projects were important or relevant to their personal interests.

• Another strategy proposed that girls are motivated when they can approach projects in their own way, applying their creativity, unique talents and preferred learning styles. Half (50%) of viewers liked how the real girls used their own creativity and talent to solve problems and complete the engineering projects.

• A third strategy noted that girls benefit from collaboration, especially when they can participate and communicate fairly. Almost half (45%) of the SciGirls viewers were energized by the teamwork and constructive interactions of the real girls.

• A final strategy indicated that girls benefit from relationships with role models and mentors. One-third (31%) of viewers identified the onscreen girls as role models for themselves and/or noted the help of the onscreen mentors in the real girls’ projects.

(The remaining 3 strategies are techniques that educators should use when working with girls, and as such are less visible in the shows themselves.)

Hope that answers your question, and that you'll enjoy episodes of SciGirls.

Search for SciGirls on YouTube to watch anywhere, any time!

 

Very interesting project. It's great to see how video products can engage young children in a positive manner. Do you have any idea if watching SciGirls makes girls (or boys) more likely to participate in citizen science projects that are not profiled in the videos? 

What a great partnership and fantastic resource!

Fantastic Project! The evidence shows that with great role models students will be more engaged in their learning and they themselves will become great role models

Great work Sarah, so proud to be your colleague and excited to present at ASTC together! Kathryn