Philly Scientists

Graphical Abstract

The Philly Scientists project engages underserved youth in grades 5-8 and their educators in a curriculum that includes a mobile application with a digital badging reward system.

Abstract

In 2014 the Obama administration created the Promise Zone designation for an area of West Philadelphia that includes a population faced with challenges stemming from deep and persistent poverty. The Philly Scientists project focuses on engaging Promise Zone youth ages 9–12 (grades 5–8) and their teachers, including in-school and out-of-school instructors, in a Next Generation Science Standards–focused curriculum that includes a mobile application with a digital badging reward system. This 13-hour curriculum is designed to foster 21st-century critical thinking about urban ecology. All resources are designed to support youths’ abilities to gather, analyze, and generate evidence-based solutions to increase the biodiversity of their urban neighborhoods.

Keywords:

• Informal Education

Author Contributions

Rasheda Likely ([email protected]) is a second-year graduate student in the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Magdalene Moy ([email protected]) is a second-year graduate student in the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nancy Songer ([email protected]) is the dean of the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Rasheda Likely

Rasheda Likely ([email protected]) is a second-year graduate student in the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Magdalene Moy

Magdalene Moy ([email protected]) is a second-year graduate student in the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Nancy Songer

Nancy Songer ([email protected]) is the dean of the School of Education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.