Home⇛International Journal of Multidisciplinary: Applied Business and Education Research⇛vol. 6 no. 11 (2025)

STS Curriculum Development via Citizen Science on Coastal Plastic Waste

Maria Alma D. Quiao | Ma. Vanessa O. Balangiao | Khryssha Mae C. Dala | Maria Elma Q. Won | Manuel B Barquilla

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

In times of rapid change and persistent learner challenges, con-tinuously updating curriculum materials is essential. The grow-ing problem of plastic pollution stresses the need to integrate cit-izen science into education to ensure relevance, engagement, and contextual application. This study developed and evaluated a module-based curriculum material that embeds citizen science into the Science, Technology, and Society (STS) curriculum, fo-cusing on the assessment of coastal plastic waste. An initial needs-assessment among STS instructors revealed strong agree-ment on developing localized, citizen-science-based materials to enhance environmental awareness. Quantitative findings demonstrated high acceptability from both experts and students. Expert evaluation yielded “Fully Acceptable” ratings in all cate-gories, with visuals rated “Very Good (Acceptable)” (Mean = 3.67), indicating strong quality and minor areas for improve-ment. The Students’ Involvement Index (SII) of 1.07 reflected ef-fective learner engagement, while the Fry Readability Graph placed the module at the college reading level. The Communica-tion Index (CI) ranged from 0 to 0.01, with a CI of 0.01 indicating fair comprehensibility—acceptable but suggesting refinement of scientific terms. Qualitative feedback from students showed that the module was engaging, meaningful, and applicable to real-world issues. Overall, integrating citizen science into the STS cur-riculum proved to be a viable and impactful strategy for promot-ing environmental literacy, fostering active participation, and strengthening contextual understanding of coastal pollution among undergraduate learners. Future work should focus on im-proving visuals and clarity, expanding instructional resources, enhancing teacher training, and conducting broader and long-term implementations to strengthen its educational impact.



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