Building a Stronger STEM Foundation: Online Data Science Education at Scale
Abstract
Data science, the application of interdisciplinary skills in science, statistics and computer science to industry-specific challenges, has revolutionized industries from biotechnology to national defense. To position the US as a global leader in data science-driven research and innovation, we must engage more students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and build a foundation for lifelong data literacy through authentic, exciting learning experiences that apply data science to real world challenges. We must also ensure that these experiences engage a broad range of learners to create a diverse, inclusive STEM workforce that can approach problem-solving with creativity and agility. To address these challenges, we must integrate data science into existing STEM education in a way that resonates with the needs and interests of a wide range of students and offers educators the training needed to confidently teach interdisciplinary skills. Using the reach and unique capabilities of LabXchange, a free platform for teaching and learning science developed at Harvard University that currently reaches over 7 million students and educators, we will create, build, and share data-driven curricula that apply data science to real world challenges in biotechnology and sustainability and engage a wide range of students in STEM. The curricula will include innovative virtual experiences that allow students to collect and analyze their own data, and will use interactive videos to highlight stories of scientists who use these principles in their careers. Educators can customize these modular lessons by combining content from LabXchange’s extensive, curated library with their own materials. Together, these features will support students with diverse interests and backgrounds in developing personal connections with data science. Student success is intimately connected with the level of teacher preparation, and many educators lack the range of content knowledge and pedagogical training to support students in interdisciplinary data science investigations. Therefore, we will also develop teacher resources that increase educator confidence and likelihood of using the curricula. We will raise awareness of the project resources and support teachers in implementing them through virtual workshops for a national audience of educators facilitated by the Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM (TIES). By making both the student curricula and teacher training resources available for free through LabXchange, we will provide blueprints that can be used by all teachers and schools, independent of resource constraints, to provide students with engaging, data science-driven STEM learning experiences. To scale the ability for the broad community of educators to increase national data science literacy, we will make our research and curricular models available through LabXchange. The extensive reach of the LabXchange platform will vastly increase the quantity and quality of data available to study learners accessing data science through different modalities embedded in the curricula. This work will contribute to the quest for individualized education and a greater understanding of optimal pedagogies for hybrid and online data science education. Finally, the LabXchange platform and this project will offer opportunities for the Department of Defense to scale its own investments in education and raise awareness among students and educators of the myriad ways Department of Defense researchers contribute to scientific advances. Department of Defense scientists will be invited to join in the process of designing and developing innovative digital learning experiences, as well as to participate in discussion boards and mentorship on LabXchange to provide broad access to their unique personal experiences and career trajectories. In this way, LabXchange will amplify the visibility of these positive role models and their impact on students across the country.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 10, 2021
- Source ID
- HQ00342110012
Entities
People
- Alain Viel
Organizations
- Office of the Secretary of Defense
- President and Fellows of Harvard College
- Washington Headquarters Services