Data Science 4 Everyone 3/12/24 Recording-2025-03-06T17:28:37.897Z

Overview of the Webinar

The session aims to present various professional development (PD) opportunities related to data science and data literacy in K-12 education. Participants are encouraged to take notes and share this information with colleagues and other districts. A full slide deck and recording will be distributed after the event.

DS4E Initiative

Data Science for Everyone (DS4E): A bipartisan initiative supported by a coalition to enhance data science and data literacy in education, facilitated by the University of Chicago. The movement was initiated from a Freakonomics podcast and now involves over 3,000 educational leaders across 29 states. Goals include:

• Raising Awareness: Promoting the importance of data science education and its relevance in today’s data-driven world.

• Curating Classroom Resources: Providing educators with high-quality materials that align with best practices in teaching data science.

• Building Community: Creating networks among educators, policymakers, and industry experts to share insights and resources, fostering collaborative learning environments.

• Influencing Policy: Advocating for data science education to be included in curriculum standards at various educational levels.This initiative emphasizes healthy discussions and invites diverse involvement from educators, policymakers, and industry leaders to provide comprehensive educational opportunities in data science.

Introduction of Content Partners

A broad overview of partners offering PD and curriculum resources for teaching data science and data literacy was provided.Programs range from supplemental resources to dedicated data science courses for high school students, catering to varying needs and levels of expertise in the classroom. Webinar participants can engage with speakers via chat, and their materials will be shared post-webinar, allowing continued learning and resource access.

Featured Presenters and Their Offerings

1. Christina Dance - UQUBED

   • Offers a free year-long data science course that is project-based, allowing teachers to either teach the whole course or integrate specific units into their own subjects. Topics covered include data exploration, hypothesis testing, and data visualization.

   • Professional development for teaching this course is scheduled for summer and will be available in both live and recorded formats, making it easier for educators to participate regardless of their schedules.

   • New workshop on teaching data across grades will engage students from Elementary to Lower High School in practical data activities, ensuring age-appropriate learning.

   • Upcoming book release: Data Minds by Joe and Kathy Williams is set for August, offering insights into fostering data literacy in various educational settings.

   • Online courses will explore 21st-century teaching methods in data science, focusing on innovative strategies such as collaborative projects and real-world data applications.

2. Erin Reedy - Data Classroom

   • Developed a user-friendly tool for creating digital graphs and conducting statistical modeling, which aims to make the data visualization process straightforward for students and educators.

   • Offers a 60-day free trial for educators to extensively explore its features, enhancing their teaching methodologies before purchasing.

   • Monthly webinars will cover practical applications of data, including engaging discussions on employing Google Trends to create interactive classroom experiences that teach students about data analysis.

   • Hosting a field workshop for teachers at Mountain Lake Biological Station in Virginia, the workshop will emphasize hands-on data collection and analysis, enriching experiential learning methodologies.

3. G Sun - Course Kata

   • Offers a fellowship program for high school statistics and data science teachers, providing free curriculum and extensive PD support designed to help educators implement practical teaching strategies.

   • Provides an interactive textbook integrated into learning management systems (LMS), with features such as embedded quizzes and real-time feedback mechanisms to enhance classroom engagement.

   • Implements research-based activities focused on addressing common misconceptions in student understanding of data principles, ensuring clarity and fostering higher learning outcomes.

4. Jocelyn Faran - Tuba

   • Focused on supplementary curriculum targeted at grades 2-5 and secondary education, addressing the diverse learning needs of students of all ages.

   • Emphasizes real-world pedagogy and data literacy, cultivating essential skills in students through interactive and inclusive instructional tools.

   • Offers micro-credentials aimed at embedding data into math and science lessons, prioritizing practical applications and organizing workshops that encourage observing local phenomena to develop data skills.

5. Evangel Schanser - Bootstrap

   • Provides a flexible data science curriculum designed for integration into mainstream subjects, ensuring lessons are relevant and accessible to all students.

   • Developed an easy-to-learn programming language (Pyrite) tailored for educational purposes, which is designed to simplify coding for beginners and includes free resources.

   • Aligns lessons with state educational standards while promoting project-based learning through practical data engagement exercises that enhance the educational experience for students.

6. Tim Jacoby - Think Data Ed

   • Nonprofit organization offering professional development in Introduction to Data Science (IDS), a program that includes 9 days of PD entirely free for districts that adopt IDS.

   • Promotes participatory sensing as a method for engaging students in practical data collection projects that bridge classroom learning with real-world applications.

   • Offers virtual workshops designed to enhance teachers' skills around data science, ensuring they are well-equipped with modern teaching tools and strategies.

7. Josh Jones - QuantHub

   • Focuses on data science and AI education with adaptive learning technologies designed specifically for K-12 classrooms, allowing for a personalized learning experience tailored to individual student needs.

   • Offers both supplementary resources and comprehensive full-course curriculum supported by online and offline components, ideal for diverse learning environments.

   • Provides professional development credits and collaborates with various learning management systems (LMS) to streamline educational processes for teachers and students alike.

8. Kristen Err Thompson - DataSpire

   • Creates interdisciplinary educational resources and PD sessions that cater to different learning styles, accommodating both synchronous and asynchronous learning formats for maximum flexibility.

   • Emphasizes the integration of data literacy in science and social studies, enhancing inquiry-based learning from kindergarten up, which prepares students for future analytical tasks.

9. Chima Mochika - Friday Institute at NC State University

   • Introduced professional learning opportunities centered on data and statistics through the In Step Learning Platform, providing substantial resources and guidance for educators.

   • Focuses on personalized learning experiences, ensuring educators are well-equipped with necessary knowledge and skills to effectively teach statistical content.

   • Announces a summer workshop in partnership with North Carolina School of Science and Math, with stipends available to encourage participation and greater educator involvement.

Additional Notes

UC Berkeley will host a free workshop this summer focusing on its Data six course, which is centered around practical coding and data science education, without prerequisites, to ensure accessibility for all educators. This provides a national opportunity for educators to network and enhance their knowledge about effective data science practices in education.

Resources and Future Opportunities

Anna Kurzweil, DS4E Community Manager, will offer regular office hours for teachers seeking support to integrate data science into their classrooms. These sessions will ensure educators have access to guidance as they navigate the abundant resources available.Announced an upcoming webinar titled Tools of the Trade focused on non-coding approaches to data science on April 12, providing insights into alternative methods that educators can implement in their teaching. Participants are encouraged to actively engage with the resources shared, whether through webinars, curriculum materials, or direct follow-up with content providers to enrich their professional development and enhance student outcomes.