In my previous blog, I wrote about my largely personal reasons for getting involved in NatureWatch (by downloading the iNaturalist app for Apple or Android).

In this second post of this series, I look at reasons for educators to use NatureWatch. In doing so, I structure my arguments around the Vision for our young people, from the New Zealand Curriculum 2007 (NZC). Note: text below that is italicised denotes that it is quoted from the NZC.

I also talk about the role of NatureWatch as a digital technology for teaching and learning, and in building digital fluency, a key 21st Century concept. I point out where the role of the teacher is particularly important, and make suggestions to get you started with NatureWatch at school.

The vision for young people

The Vision espoused in the NZC is for young people to be:

• connected
• actively involved
• confident
• lifelong learners.

How could using NatureWatch help?

Connected: Young people who are connected via NatureWatch

When students create their NatureWatch account and download the iNaturalist app, they become members of communities; both New Zealand’s NatureWatch community and the iNaturalist international community. If they add an observation to a project, they become members of that community too. When they create an observation, perhaps, by photographing a kowhai, or, recording the song of a bellbird, they are connected to the land and environment at their present location. When they synch that observation to the Cloud, they are contributing as local, national, and international citizens. These three aspects of connectedness are particularly well aligned with NatureWatch.

Joining a NatureWatch project like NZ Butterflies and their caterpillars enables you
to connect with other people of similar interests.

Using NatureWatch can provide evidence that students are effective users of communication tools and show that they are able to relate well to others. These two related aspects require students to do more than just recording and synching their observations and forgetting about them. However, because their data is real, and the community is large and skilled, it is highly likely that students would take some extra steps. Students’ messages or comments by others about their observations provide evidence that they are using the platform appropriately, and communicating well with other members.

Actively involved: Young people who are actively involved by using NatureWatch

Many members of the NatureWatch community are actively involved in the discussion about my observation of a white-tailed spider.

Students should have opportunities to be participants in a range of life contexts. Although social media is an example of a life context that is normal for students to participate in these days, NatureWatch extends the range, as it involves social media and crowdsourcing being used for a scientific purpose. Not only that, I believe, schools and teachers have a valuable role to play here, as most students would not otherwise encounter tools like NatureWatch that extend their range of life contexts in such a way.

We also want students to be contributors to the wellbeing of New Zealand — social, cultural, economic, and environmental. There is no doubt in my mind that when students record their observations in NatureWatch, they are contributing to the environmental wellbeing of New Zealand. If they did not make a particular observation, at a particular time, on a particular date, at a particular place, then, that observation opportunity would be missed. It would never be recorded, and hence, would never be part of a later analysis that could then potentially inform decision-makers.

The process students go through to record an observation means that they are actively involved. They are not merely passive consumers of information; they are creating it. When students add their observations to projects, it is a step up in being actively involved. If it is a local observation or project, then it is a step up again, as it has more meaning to the real communities that students belong to.

Confident: Young people who become more confident by using NatureWatch

From Barrie’s observations; a species that is part of our New Zealand identity: harakeke — Phormium tenax.

We want students to be positive in their own identity. When a student observes and records a living thing, it contributes to their identity. This is especially true if it is a native plant or animal that is a well-known part of our biological heritage, such as a koru or a weta. I can think of scenarios, too: students who come here from other parts of the world use NatureWatch here, and proudly tell their extended family overseas about it. There could be great conversations using the message and comments facilities of NatureWatch as they compare observations across the world.

As teachers and parents, we all like youngsters to be motivated and reliable. Although using NatureWatch may be inherently motivating for some students, motivating all students requires teacher skills, such as showing where NatureWatch fits into a bigger picture; helping students challenge themselves; scaffolding learning; and, standing back. Teachers’ management skills of signposting, setting deadlines, monitoring and checking should also help students to develop their reliability. I believe teachers can make a big difference here, but, I also think NatureWatch can save time, as students observations could be an authentic source of evidence that could contribute to making an Overall Teacher Judgement (OTJ) about student learning.

Lifelong learners: Young people who are lifelong learners through NatureWatch

If students used NatureWatch throughout their lives, as I plan to, then it almost can’t help but contribute to lifelong learning. Imagine if every teacher in New Zealand reminded their students about NatureWatch before every holiday and did a quick follow-up when they returned? Maybe that would become a habit for students that would endure into adulthood.

The Vision calls for students to be literate and numerate. Because NatureWatch provides an authentic context, there are opportunities for students to apply, practise and develop their literacy and numeracy skills. For example, via their observations, students are likely to be exposed to Latin names, Māori names, and common English names, which broadens their vocabulary and subtly introduces them to other languages. Ultimately, this could also get students interested in the classification system (taxonomy) of living things. Using NatureWatch may not cause students to be critical and creative thinkers, but it provides opportunities that are only limited by our imagination. NatureWatch inherently encourages us to be active seekers, users, and creators of knowledge. Every time we contribute an observation we are doing so. Will using NatureWatch help us to be informed decision-makers? If it’s about biodiversity, I think there is no doubt. For example, a community could use NatureWatch to find out if introduced species are taking over a local reserve, and use the results to inform their response.

Digital fluency and NatureWatch

The ability to use digital devices proficiently, appropriately, and safely is an increasingly important part of being a 21st Century worker and citizen. Using NatureWatch provides an opportunity for teachers to highlight aspects of digital fluency to their students. Consider:

• Are they proficient at using their smartphone to photograph a living thing? Can they save and synch their observations?
• Can they go to a laptop and follow up on their observations with the NatureWatch community?
• Are they thinking up great questions based on their NatureWatch experience?
• Do they have some strategies to analyse or represent data from NatureWatch?
• Are they using the commenting and messaging systems appropriately?
• Are they protecting their online identity?

I think NatureWatch is a great opportunity for students to make use of the digital world for something that is very real.

Getting started at school with Naturewatch

After looking over the NatureWatch Teacher’s Guide, sign up with NatureWatch and download the free smartphone app. Then, record your first observation.

It’s important to use NatureWatch yourself to better appreciate its potential in the classroom, especially as part of a Learning Area such as Science. If you are at school, try recording some wild living thing near your classroom. With your students this would be an ideal time to experiment with “flipping” your classroom so students record their observations and trouble-shoot in their own time, and you use precious class time for discussion and for students to demonstrate what they have learned. You could also mention NatureWatch/iNaturalist in a school newsletter and get parents involved; some would really run with it. Think about using NatureWatch as a part of an activity on a school camp or field trip. Don’t have enough smart phones for your class? You could use one camera or smartphone with GPS tagging and your NatureWatch account, which you manage for the class. Teachers are skilled at finding ways to get everyone involved and giving everyone a fair go!

And, expand your own use of NatureWatch. Next time you are at the park, shopping or on holiday, record something there — maybe a specimen tree by the supermarket, or a sea snail in a rockpool by the sea. You could also get your own family involved. How about posting a link to your latest observation in the Comments section at the bottom of the web version of this blog post? I will if you will.

The LEARNZ team will use NatureWatch to record observations during the LEARNZ Wetland Biodiversity virtual field trip for schools from 15-17 March 2016. In my next blog, I will look at NatureWatch in the context of Learning Areas, such as Science, with examples from the Wetland Biodiversity field trip.

Links

• Barrie’s first blog about NatureWatch
• NatureWatch
• NatureWatch Help, FAQ, Video Tutorials, Teacher’s Guide and more
• NatureWatch Teacher’s Guide
• Barrie’s Observations on NatureWatch
• Butterflies and their Caterpillars – NatureWatch project
• iNaturalist (NatureWatch) app for Apple
• iNaturalist (NatureWatch) app for Android
• The Vision for our young people from the NZ Curriculum
• MoE – Technologies for Teaching and Learning
• What is Digital Fluency?
• Ten Trends 2016: Digital fluency
• Flipped Learning
• The Flipped Classroom
• Teachers have never been more important
• NatureWatch on the LEARNZ Wetland Biodiversity virtual field trip
• Science and other Learning Areas of the NZ Curriculum

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Barrie Matthews

Barrie Matthews works with teachers across the sectors and curriculum areas to get the best out of LEARNZ and ICT. Barrie brings a wealth of experience to his role as LEARNZ Project Manager, he was a classroom teacher for 15 years, and has 30 years of computing and ICT experience. He has a BSc, a Diploma in Internet Technology, and a post-graduate Diploma in Sport Coaching. He has worked on the LEARNZ project for the past 10 years helping to grow the programme, which is now running in 90% of New Zealand schools.

Latest posts by Barrie Matthews (see all)

• Using NatureWatch in Science, Stats, GIS and other Learning Areas - April 13, 2016
• Using NatureWatch to build 21st Century capabilities in students - March 14, 2016
• Contributing to your community as a non-scientist using NatureWatch - February 11, 2016