Creating a Buzz About Community-Engaged Research

Abstract

School districts across the United States are actively exploring avenues to aid elementary-aged Gifted and Talented (GT) students in conducting student-driven research, value science within their local community, develop students’ science practices and soft skill acquisition. This article describes how a district-wide program integrated novel emerging technologies to improve elementary GT students’ abilities to research a topic of their own interest, in conjunction with a science professional within their community related to that topic, and present their findings at a public symposium. We discuss how use of emerging technologies afforded students a new way to access scientific content via 3D visualization and provided a virtual platform to present their ideas. We share a case of GT students who researched and presented on local bee conservation. Guided by Science and Engineering Practices (grades 3-5) and emerging technologies, participating students developed strategies to conserve bees and presented their findings to members of the local scientist and lay communities. We provide a rubric to support formative assessment of students’ science practices and soft skills during a symposium event for generative feedback. We provide guidance for other community-science and GT programs to enhance students’ research and presentation experiences through emerging technology integration.

Keywords::

• 3-5
• NGSS
• Science and Engineering Practices
• obtaining
• evaluating
• and communicating information
• special education
• use of technology
• life science

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/00368148.2023.2292395.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rebecca Hite

Rebecca Hite ([email protected]) is an associate professor of STEM education at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas.

Jennifer Feck

Jennifer Feck ([email protected]) is a digital innovation facilitator.

Tiffany Huebner

Tiffany Huebner ([email protected]) is the director of Advanced Academics & Fine Arts.

Molly Johnson

Molly Johnson ([email protected]) is the executive director of Communications.

Brandon Ligon

Brandon Ligon ([email protected]) is a digital innovation facilitator, all at San Angelo Independent School District in San Angelo, Texas.