Real World, Real Science 2.0: Learning Ecosystems Northeast

Addressing the challenge of climate change requires an informed citizenry that can reason with data, examine new climate science information, and recognize the ways in which global climate change contributes to local climate change. Connected learning ecosystems (CLEs) can help address this challenge—especially in rural, tribal, and immigrant communities—by building partnerships that include science teachers and educators from informal science settings. Yet it’s important to understand if and how CLEs reach their goals.

EDC is conducting an evaluation of the NASA-funded Real World Real Science (RWRS) 2.0 project. The RWRS 2.0 project builds on EDC’s work to develop curriculum modules that blend climate science and data science to support students in learning about the environment. Led by the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI), RWRS 2.0 brings together science and technology centers (STCs), librarians, teachers, afterschool providers, and tribal and community organizations to build CLEs and learning experiences for youth that include authentic climate science data sets and cultural and historical knowledge.