GLOBE Eclipse Workshop Engages Educators in Earth Science Research

The excitement surrounding the April 8th, 2024, solar eclipse provided a unique opportunity to engage teachers and their students in citizen science through data collection and conducting research. GLOBE is one of many citizen science programs that asked participants to collect various environmental and atmosphere data during the eclipse. To help teachers successfully engage in eclipse citizen science, we offered an online workshop that supported teachers' certification as GLOBE educators. Over 60 educators from across the United States participated in the 5-week workshop. The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program encourages students, educators, and the public in general, to make observations of different aspects of our environment, following a series of protocols. These observations are submitted to the GLOBE database so that they can be used for research by anyone worldwide. During the 2024 GLOBE Eclipse workshop for U.S. Formal and Informal Educators, participants received training in the GLOBE Clouds, Air Temperature, and Surface Temperature protocols. Educators also collected air temperature and cloud cover data using the GLOBE Eclipse tool that is part of the GLOBE Observer app. Moreover, educators learned about different opportunities to engage their students in authentic research with GLOBE, as well as avenues to showcase that research. Educators were also guided in the creation of a research poster to document their own findings related to atmospheric changes during the solar eclipse in their locations. A survey indicated that finding ways to better use data in the classroom as well as becoming more adept at using the GLOBE Observer app were a major motivation for many teachers to participate in the webinar series. Furthermore, the webinar series boosted educators' confidence in engaging in science practices within their classrooms.