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'To Touch Is to Know': Haptic Inquiry for Primary School Citizen Science

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Title: 'To Touch Is to Know': Haptic Inquiry for Primary School Citizen Science
Language: English
Authors: L. Colucci-Gray (ORCID 0000-0003-0390-7364), J. Hancock (ORCID 0000-0001-5997-9426), A. Manches, S. Mozier, P. Lakeman-Fraser, J. Newman (ORCID 0009-0008-4111-7500), R. Islam, N. Sharma, M. Dodd, J. Ansine, L. Bowers, S. Rüger (ORCID 0000-0002-6013-9018), A. Siddharthan
Source: International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement. 2025 15(3):360-376.
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: 17
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Elementary School Students, Citizen Participation, Scientific Research, Science Education, Naturalistic Observation, Tactual Perception, Sensory Experience, Educational Environment, Physical Environment, Outdoor Education, Technology Uses in Education, Biology, Identification
Geographic Terms: United Kingdom (Scotland)
DOI: 10.1080/21548455.2025.2496428
ISSN: 2154-8455
2154-8463
Abstract: Drawing on insights from the transdisciplinary project 'SENSE: Sensory Explorations of Nature in School Environments', this paper articulates a novel approach that addresses current calls for meaningful participation of children in citizen science activities in schools. We scaffolded more typical data collection activities within diverse digital and natural haptic experiences aimed at developing observational skills through arts and science-based methods, such as clay modelling, digital haptic tree identification and textural mapping exercises of the school grounds. Data were collected in three primary schools in Scotland, through audio and video-recording, and observation notes in the field. Findings showed how incorporating touch focuses attention differently to vision, leading to different scientific questions and inquiries. In effect, touch experiences may serve to balance the aims of citizen science beyond the intentional identification and enumeration of species towards the more taxing, epistemic and ethical questions of 'who decides what matters in nature observation' and 'for whom' is the learning, as students are invited to participate and contribute on their own terms. Implications for this form of citizen science to open significantly new directions for children's participation, and make its way into existing teaching practices in schools, are discussed.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2025
Accession Number: EJ1484678
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
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  Data: 'To Touch Is to Know': Haptic Inquiry for Primary School Citizen Science
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22L%2E+Colucci-Gray%22">L. Colucci-Gray</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0390-7364">0000-0003-0390-7364</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22J%2E+Hancock%22">J. Hancock</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5997-9426">0000-0001-5997-9426</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22A%2E+Manches%22">A. Manches</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22S%2E+Mozier%22">S. Mozier</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22P%2E+Lakeman-Fraser%22">P. Lakeman-Fraser</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22J%2E+Newman%22">J. Newman</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4111-7500">0009-0008-4111-7500</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22R%2E+Islam%22">R. Islam</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22N%2E+Sharma%22">N. Sharma</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22M%2E+Dodd%22">M. Dodd</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22J%2E+Ansine%22">J. Ansine</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22L%2E+Bowers%22">L. Bowers</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22S%2E+Rüger%22">S. Rüger</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6013-9018">0000-0002-6013-9018</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22A%2E+Siddharthan%22">A. Siddharthan</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22International+Journal+of+Science+Education%2C+Part+B%3A+Communication+and+Public+Engagement%22"><i>International Journal of Science Education, Part B: Communication and Public Engagement</i></searchLink>. 2025 15(3):360-376.
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  Data: 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
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Foreign+Countries%22">Foreign Countries</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Elementary+School+Students%22">Elementary School Students</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Citizen+Participation%22">Citizen Participation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Scientific+Research%22">Scientific Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Science+Education%22">Science Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Naturalistic+Observation%22">Naturalistic Observation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Tactual+Perception%22">Tactual Perception</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sensory+Experience%22">Sensory Experience</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Environment%22">Educational Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+Environment%22">Physical Environment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outdoor+Education%22">Outdoor Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Technology+Uses+in+Education%22">Technology Uses in Education</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biology%22">Biology</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Identification%22">Identification</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22United+Kingdom+%28Scotland%29%22">United Kingdom (Scotland)</searchLink>
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  Data: 10.1080/21548455.2025.2496428
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  Data: 2154-8455<br />2154-8463
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  Data: Drawing on insights from the transdisciplinary project 'SENSE: Sensory Explorations of Nature in School Environments', this paper articulates a novel approach that addresses current calls for meaningful participation of children in citizen science activities in schools. We scaffolded more typical data collection activities within diverse digital and natural haptic experiences aimed at developing observational skills through arts and science-based methods, such as clay modelling, digital haptic tree identification and textural mapping exercises of the school grounds. Data were collected in three primary schools in Scotland, through audio and video-recording, and observation notes in the field. Findings showed how incorporating touch focuses attention differently to vision, leading to different scientific questions and inquiries. In effect, touch experiences may serve to balance the aims of citizen science beyond the intentional identification and enumeration of species towards the more taxing, epistemic and ethical questions of 'who decides what matters in nature observation' and 'for whom' is the learning, as students are invited to participate and contribute on their own terms. Implications for this form of citizen science to open significantly new directions for children's participation, and make its way into existing teaching practices in schools, are discussed.
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        Value: 10.1080/21548455.2025.2496428
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      – SubjectFull: Citizen Participation
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