HeatWise Citizen Science

Building upon the Spring 2025 teacher-dashboard prototype, the DS488 team will refine the Heatwise Citizen Science app, specifically targeting high school students. The app's primary functions will focus on structured environmental data collection and the management of an accessible data repository. Boston Public School educators will seamlessly assign, supervise, and organize these environmental data activities, while students engage in meaningful field data collection. Supplementary instruction provided by teachers will add educational depth and context beyond the app’s functionality. This dual-persona platform will align closely with the curriculum standards set by Boston Green Academy and Boston Public Schools. Current Prototype Status The current prototype is not yet at an MVP level. The main objective remains educational data collection as it is explicitly not intended as a homework platform, nor should it emulate competitors previously researched. The platform is anticipated to function primarily as a web app, enabling compatibility across multiple devices. Key Features Data Collection and Repository: Clearly defined data collection tasks aligned with ecological science objectives (soil composition, ambient temperature, etc.) Minimal Gamification: Simple progress tracking and basic rewards (badges, points) to motivate/track consistent data collection. Gamification strictly supportive of data accuracy and educational outcomes, avoiding distraction Teacher and Student Interfaces • Teacher • Invite, edit, and manage student accounts • Initiate and oversee data collection activities • View student progress and data submissions • Edit and manage datasets • Basic customization of data visualizations • Download data into csv files • Student • Streamlined login • Clear, intuitive data collection workflow • Brief context blurbs about data collection tasks • Progress indicators • Minimal reflections on data collection for teacher review • Basic achievement badges/statistics reflecting their data collection. Defining the data model: finalize what variables are captured onsite (e.g., surface temp, canopy cover photos, soil pH) and how they flow to REDCap or CSV for researchers.