Teaching with Data

Teaching with scientific data provides an entry point for learners to engage in science and making meaning from observations. Using data in our classes, lecture, and laboratories focuses learning on the process of science while capitalizing on new opportunities created by data sharing and web technology.

The exponential growth in scientific data through programs such as the Ocean Observing Initiative (OOI) is providing exciting opportunities for scientists to mine data from sources well beyond their own university based research groups. Often in the ocean sciences, phenomena of interest are too difficult and expensive for students to explore by direct experience in the classroom. The OOI provides an important and critical service to bring ocean science data to the classroom for authentic learning experiences.

Software tools developed for undergraduate teaching using OOI data support students in developing evidence and reasoning skills. By incorporating this framework of claims evidence, and reasoning for scientific explanation into online exercises, instructional strategies, and assessments, we hope to build students’ conceptual understanding and improve their ability to think and communicate more scientifically.

The online data investigations being developed by this project strive to help students develop strong argumentation skills by focusing on analyzing evidence and backing up their claims. The ability to make and understand scientific claims, analyze evidence, and develop arguments from the analysis of data is critical to student learning success and to compete in the modern workforce.

Throughout this project, we will be sharing resources to help undergraduate educators bring data into their classrooms. This includes pedagogical information as well as coding examples and visualization tools. For regular updates, please check out the Data Labs Blog or signup for our community newsletter.