Collecting data on the internet also has positive aspects, for example promoting public participation. The aim of the final course »Citizen Science« in our course series is to identify the reasons why data is collected and how it can contribute to change and progress. You will get to see the relevance of sensors for data collection and understand how you can generate new knowledge based on your own collected data and use it to initiate change in your own environment. At the same time, you learn how pseudonymised data collection can create added value for society without revealing sensitive information about their own privacy.
You can find all information about the project at https://cybersecurity4schools.de/en
The MOOC »Data privacy & Big data« made aware of our digital footprint and data collection, which can be used for commercial and other purposes. This data is mostly collected in the background, without our knowledge.
The final course »Citizen Science« on the other hand, focuses on open data and the positive use of this data by the general public. Texts, music, videos, pictures - almost any information can be stored digitally in the form of data. This can be made available as open data and then independently evaluated, processed and published by other users. Open data has a great added value for knowledge acquisition, for example through free encyclopaedias that everyone can contribute to, learning videos, blogs, forums, etc. Users often become active contributors themselves.
Why is open data important?
Access to relevant information is a basic prerequisite for creating transparency for political decisions. Such access is also essential for social participation, innovation, economic growth and sustainable development of the knowledge society. In citizen science, citizens independently make observations, carry out measurements or analyse data. It is an open science in which projects can theoretically be carried out without institutions. However, interested laypeople and researchers often work together on certain topics.
The course deals with exemplary environmental measurement data. You get to know different measuring tools, collect the data independently and evaluate it. At the same time, you receive an introduction to the basics of programming and an insight into sensor technology.
The goal of the course is to provide you with content-related assistance in developing the most important concepts on the topic of Citizen science, as well as didactic recommendations for teaching it in the classroom.
The basis for this course is provided by the courses »How do I navigate the internet«, as well as »Data privacy & Big data« and optionally »Passwords & Data security«.
The course consists of introductory videos, live training, explanatory videos, as well as additional practical teaching handouts, the opportunity for exchange and consolidation in the discussion forum, and short learning objective checks.
Behind Teach the Teacher Cybersecurity is a dedicated team made up of Fraunhofer IAIS, Junge Tüftler, Cybersecurity experts, and Roberta coaches.
Our funding partners are EIT Digital and Fraunhofer IAIS.