Citizen Science Using Jellywatch

Students will use the Jellywatch website to download and analyze raw data of sightings recorded through this citizen science initiative. Students will use a modified data set from Jellywatch to investigate the geographic distribution of the jellyfish sightings recorded. Students will also use real-time data from Jellywatch to search for recent sightings of jellies in their own region, where applicable. Students will communicate their findings for a formative assessment using an Infographic platform. Multiple extensions allow the flexibility for students to collect their own data and to demonstrate the importance of programs that collect such data.

Authors: Miriam Sutton, Robert Flores, Katie Lodes, Elizabeth Eubanks; EARTH 2014

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Procedure

1. See Teacher Overview of Citizen Scientist and Jellywatch.org (PDF)
2. See Citizen Science and Jellywatch.org
3. See Teacher Jelly Tutorial – Key (PowerPoint Presentation)

Teacher Materials

• Lesson Plan (PDF)
• Modifying JellyWatch Data Instruction Sheet (PDF)
• Modified Jellyfish Data
• Example Infographic
• Citizen Science using Jellywatch.org video
• Ocean Sciences 2014 Keynote video: Elizabeth Kapu’uwailani Lindsey
• JellyWatch use Survey

Student Materials

• Student Reflection and Procedures sheet (PDF)
• Infographic Rubric
• Adding a sighting to JellyWatch.org website (PDF)

Extensions

• Students will go out and collect data for Jellywatch.org.
• Students will evaluate the usefulness of the Jellywatch.org app and website. The Survey Monkey link can be found at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2WH53DL

Additional Resources

Infographic “making” websites

• Easy-To-Use Infographic Creator—www.piktochart.com
• Create and share visual ideas—www.easel.ly
• Canva—www.canva.com/create/infographics/

Essentials of Infographics

• Creating an infographic–the essentials—
  http://www.wiliam.com.au/wiliam-blog/creating-an-infographic-the-essentials
• Seven Essentials of Good Infographic Design— http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/12/seven-essentials-of-good-infographic.html#.VbEc3xNViko

Jellyfish Content Background

• Trends in Animal Evolution (Cnidarian Timeline)—http://www.bio.utexas.edu/faculty/sjasper/Bio301M/animals.html
• Encyclopaedia of Life (Cnidarians)—http://eol.org/pages/1745/overview
• Shape of Life: The Story of the Animal Kingdom—http://shapeoflife.org/jellyfish-0

Post-lesson Survey

This Survey Monkey is designed for students, teachers or the general public to submit after they have used the Jellywatch.org mobile app and/or webpage. https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2WH53DL