Building the field: How connections with citizen science projects can enhance primary school science programs

It has been long established that generalist teachers in primary schools often lack the skills and/or confidence to effectively teach science. In some cases, schools engage citizen science community groups to add to the science experiences provided within the school setting and local community. This study seeks to engage both with providers of citizen science programs and schools who have accessed these provisions to ascertain the level of benefit that can be gained from schools engaging with citizen science organisations to enhance their science programs. Additionally, information will be sought as to how to maximise the effectiveness of the relationship between providers and schools to provide most benefit from the collaboration. It is envisioned that the data may provide possibilities for a model that could be employed widely in schools to enhance science teaching, allowing for increased learning and community engagement, while potentially providing additional modelling for teachers such that skills and confidence in science teaching can be increased - with the ultimate benefit being to the possibilities for student learning.