Presentation Details
| Creating Communication Allies through A Birdsong Program: A Qualitative Case Study of Cornell Students Wangchen Pei1, Celia R.McLean1, Precious O.Oyewole1, Julie A.Hengst2, Nora H.Prior1. 1Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.2University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana–Champaign, IL, USA |
Abstract
Inclusive communication is essential to science education and community outreach. This qualitative study describes Cornell students’ experiences in A Birdsong Program, a community-engaged birding program developed in collaboration with TST BOCES, an alternative NY state education system, and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. This program leverages frameworks from community-engaged research, participatory design, and rich communicative environments to support the co-development of inclusive birding activities. After participation in at least one semester of this program, Cornell students were invited to share their weekly reflective journals, final essays, and participate in semi-structured interviews to help us understand their experiences. Over half of the participants (17 out of 29) agreed to participate in this research. Our analysis highlights varied ways A Birdsong Program shaped students communication practices and approach to justice-oriented teaching. More broadly, these findings highlight the value of reflective engagement in nature-based STEM programs for community building and the development of inclusive practices.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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