On Thursday, March 6 @ 11am ET, join Cary Institute for a virtual scientific seminar by Dr. Jonathan Griffith, University of Colorado Boulder.
Inspiring youth to be curious about data and eager to make sense of the world around them is the foundation of effective science education. Therefore, developing students’ data sensemaking and analysis skills are essential, not only for their science learning, but also for empowering them to think critically, make evidence-based conclusions, and actively participate in the processes of science.
Diverging from traditional science education standards which emphasized the rote memorization of “facts”, the Next Generation Science Standards challenge students to ask questions, test, and refine their ideas by using authentic datasets as they seek to explain scientific phenomena. This shift necessitates a transformation in classroom instruction, requiring teachers to integrate authentic data sensemaking practices that promote student-driven inquiry. Data Puzzles lessons support teachers and students in making this transition by providing structured and open-ended data investigations in the context of real-world phenomena such as ecological tipping points, natural hazards, and Arctic amplification.
Data Puzzles are three-day lesson sets designed to scaffold students’ engagement with primary and secondary datasets, developed by the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES). Complementary resources include large datasets and facilitate more open-ended explorations of complex data using the Common Data Analysis Platform (CODAP), an online, interactive educational data analysis tool. This session will introduce these resources, highlighting how they can support educators in bridging the gap between structured instruction and flexible, student-led investigations and infusing authentic scientific data into classrooms. By fostering stronger connections between scientific research and classroom learning, Data Puzzles empower students to engage with data in ways that mirror authentic scientific practices.
Free and open to all. Registration required via Eventbrite.
