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Learning Plant Biodiversity in Nature: The Use of the Citizen–Science Platform iNaturalist as a Collaborative Tool in Secondary Education

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  • Andres Echeverria

    (Institute for Multidisciplinary Applied Biology (IMAB), Public University of Navarra, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Idoia Ariz

    (Institute for Multidisciplinary Applied Biology (IMAB), Public University of Navarra, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain
    Departamento de Biología Ambiental, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Navarra, E-31008 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Judit Moreno

    (Institute for Multidisciplinary Applied Biology (IMAB), Public University of Navarra, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Javier Peralta

    (Department of Sciences, Public University of Navarra, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain)

  • Esther M. Gonzalez

    (Institute for Multidisciplinary Applied Biology (IMAB), Public University of Navarra, E-31006 Pamplona, Spain)

Abstract

Biodiversity is a concept of great scientific interest and social value studied in different subjects of the secondary education curriculum. Citizen–science programs may contribute to increasing the engagement of students when studying biodiversity. This work aimed to explore the use of the citizen–science platform iNaturalist as a complement of the elaboration of herbaria in an outdoor activity for 4th course 16-year-old students in the Basaula Reserve. The platform iNaturalist was chosen for its suitability to develop collaborative projects in an educational context. The Basaula project was created and 122 students were trained to record plant species in an outdoor activity. A total of 32 species were recorded, among them the most abundant were beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) and holm oak ( Quercus ilex ). The students positively evaluated their experience, highlighting its adequacy to record biodiversity data and make a virtual herbarium. Students valued the innovative character of iNaturalist and its usefulness for research but also the opportunity to integrate mobile devices in school education. We concluded that iNaturalist is a valuable tool to carry out collaborative projects dealing with biodiversity in secondary education.

Suggested Citation

  • Andres Echeverria & Idoia Ariz & Judit Moreno & Javier Peralta & Esther M. Gonzalez, 2021. "Learning Plant Biodiversity in Nature: The Use of the Citizen–Science Platform iNaturalist as a Collaborative Tool in Secondary Education," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:735-:d:480015
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Melchor Gómez-García & Roberto Soto-Varela & Juan Agustín Morón-Marchena & María José del Pino-Espejo, 2020. "Using Mobile Devices for Educational Purposes in Compulsory Secondary Education to Improve Student’s Learning Achievements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-12, May.
    2. Irmeli Palmberg & Sirpa Kärkkäinen & Eila Jeronen & Eija Yli-Panula & Christel Persson, 2019. "Nordic Student Teachers’ Views on the Most Efficient Teaching and Learning Methods for Species and Species Identification," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(19), pages 1-19, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Terence Fell & Tove Rydenstam & Benti Geleta Buli & Abby C. King & Katarina Bälter, 2021. "Citizen Science in Sweden’s Stigmatized Neighborhoods," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-22, September.
    2. Małgorzata Gawlik-Kobylińska, 2021. "Can Security and Safety Education Support Sustainability? Lessons Learned from Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-13, February.
    3. Larissa Braz Sousa & Stephen Fricker & Cameron E. Webb & Katherine L. Baldock & Craig R. Williams, 2022. "Citizen Science Mosquito Surveillance by Ad Hoc Observation Using the iNaturalist Platform," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Juan-Francisco Álvarez-Herrero, 2023. "Urban Itineraries with Smartphones to Promote an Improvement in Environmental Awareness among Secondary School Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Gheorghe-Gavrilă Hognogi & Monika Meltzer & Filip Alexandrescu & Lucrina Ștefănescu, 2023. "The role of citizen science mobile apps in facilitating a contemporary digital agora," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 10(1), pages 1-16, December.
    6. Magdalena Roszczyńska-Kurasińska & Nina Wróblewska, 2023. "Technological Innovations for Citizen Environmental Participation: Case of Poland," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-19, March.
    7. Gloria Martínez-Sagarra & Felipe Castilla & Francisco Pando, 2022. "Seven Hundred Projects in iNaturalist Spain: Performance and Lessons Learned," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-15, September.
    8. Maria Panitsa & Nikolia Iliopoulou & Emmanouil Petrakis, 2021. "Citizen Science, Plant Species, and Communities’ Diversity and Conservation on a Mediterranean Biosphere Reserve," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-11, September.

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