Laboratory for the Study of Extra Solar Planets: Fostering Data Literacy

太阳系外行星研究实验室：培养数据素养为物理课堂上的高中生提供了一个虚拟环境，让他们参与研究系外行星的尖端科学。该项目建立在以前工作的基础上，是整合科学实践、交叉概念和《下一代科学标准框架》所要求的科学内容的范例和试验台。该项目生产了七个迷你实验室，为学生探测恒星周围系外行星的轨道奠定了基础。这些包括学习使用模型，学习使用望远镜，处理数据，应用概念来解释数据，以及根据数据创建3-D交互模型。在另外三个关于红外和光谱学的实验室中，学生们学习如何应用核心概念和建模来识别系外行星的一些属性。使用在线望远镜和学习软件，学生们对科学探究有了更深入的理解，包括从模型中推理，收集评估和解释真实的数据，并从多条证据中得出结论。教师支持包括关于创业、在线专业发展和与科学界互动的课堂支持。以前的工作被证明在吸引城市地区服务不足社区的女孩和学生方面具有很强的潜力。最重要的研究问题是学生如何学习理解数据。有什么工具可以帮助他们有效地从最初的想法转变为更复杂的理解？这项研究集中在数据素养的三个基本领域：从模型进行推理，评估数据的质量，解释数据和理解不确定性。定性数据是在第一年收集的，并使用专家制定的标准进行评分。在第二年，采用了更多的量化措施。使用验证评估中的项目创建评估工具，并对其进行心理测量学验证。该项目的成果是一个独特的在线实验室，所有教室都可以访问该实验室，使学生参与到当代科学最令人兴奋的研究前沿之一的有意义的科学数据收集、分析、可视化、建模和解释中。这些活动和评估将天文学转变为一门以探究为基础的学科，大大提高了学生对科学实践和内容的理解，以及他们对科学的态度、兴趣和认同感。这项研究增进了我们对如何增加学生的数据素养知识的理解，这在所有学科的科学教育中都是广泛有用的。

The Laboratory for the Study of Extra Solar Planets: Fostering Data Literacy provides a virtual environment in which high school students in physics classes engage in the cutting edge science of studying exoplanets. The project builds on previous work and serves as an example and test bed for integrating science practice, crosscutting concepts and science content as called for in the Framework for the Next Generation Science Standards. The project produces seven mini-labs that scaffold students in the detection of orbits of exoplanets around their stars. These include learning to use models, learning to use the telescope, working with data, applying concepts to interpret data and creating a 3-D interactive model based on their data. In three more laboratories on infrared and spectroscopy, students learn to apply core concepts and modeling to identify some of the properties of the exoplanets. Using online telescopes and learning software, students gain a deeper understanding of science inquiry, including reasoning from models, gathering assessing, and interpreting authentic data, and drawing conclusions from multiple line of evidence. Teacher support includes in-class support on start-up, online professional development, and interaction with the scientific community. The previous work has been shown to have strong potential for engaging girls and also students in underserved communities in urban areas. The overarching research question is how students learn to make sense of data. What are the tools that can help them move efficiently from their initial ideas to more sophisticated understandings? The research focuses on three areas that are fundamental to data literacy: reasoning from models, assessing the quality of the data and interpreting data and understanding uncertainty. Qualitative data are gathered in the first year and scored using a rubric developed by experts. In year two, more quantitative measures are employed. Assessment instruments, using items from validated assessments, are created and psychometrically validated. The outcomes of this project are a unique online Laboratory that is universally accessible to all classrooms and that engages students in meaningful scientific data collection, analysis, visualization, modeling and interpretation at one of the most exciting research frontiers in current science. The activities and assessments transform astronomy into an inquiry-based subject that significantly increases students' understanding of science practice and content as well as their science attitudes, interest, and identity. The research advances our understanding of ways to increase students' knowledge of data literacy, which is widely useful in science education across all disciplines.