Digital eco-detectives and the BBC micro:bit

We are partnering with a primary school in Oxfordshire under a Royal Society STEM partnership grant to conduct a project called “Digital Eco-Detectives: Unravelling the littering mystery at our School!” over two phases. The aim of the Royal Society STEM partnership grant is to an opportunity for students to develop key skills, including research skills, problem solving skills, and data-handling skills, which will be invaluable for their future careers.

In this project, Year 5 children (aged 9-10) will engage in a series of technology-enhanced, inquiry-based learning activities, focusing on the BBC Micro:bit, a tiny, programmable computer with various environmental sensors and inputs.

Phase 1: Inquiry (spring 2024)

Over five weeks, children learn to be "eco-detectives" by collecting and analysing data to find out about a problem related to environment sustainability (littering, specifically) using the Micro:bit and its Jacdac accessories. In doing so, we are investigate how children develop research competencies, data literacies, and a deeper affection to their school and local environment. We anticipate that this may lead to children developing a stronger environmental conscientiousness and feeling empowered to understand other issues in their local environment. Children's findings about "where", "when", "who", and "why" of littering at their school informs anti-littering interventions in Phase 2.

Phase 2: Intervention (spring 2025)

The following year, over another five-week term, children build on the findings about the "where", "when", "who", and "why" of littering to design and evaluate their own anti-littering campaign. They will learn to use 3D printers and Canva to create a gamified anti-littering campaign for their primary school. They will put on their detective hats to conduct an evaluation of how effective their campaign is, using the BBC Micro:bit to measure littering and sustainable behaviours in the school grounds before, during, and after the campaign.

Stay tuned to find out the results of this exciting work! The Royal Society has chosen this project to be highlighted in Parliamentary Event Showcase!

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