Collaborative Research: Designing and Exploring a Model for Data Science Learning for Middle School Youth

数据科学在工作场所和日常生活中变得越来越重要；因此，学生需要有机会与数据打交道，并将数据科学视为诱人和可行的。该项目将侧重于通过数据科学在课后数据科学俱乐部和农村和城市设置的中学青年营地中整合计算机科学和数学。该项目将为教学和学习数据科学创建模块，这些模块可以在非正式和正式环境中与教育工作者共享。这些模块将使青年利用计算机工具处理大大小小的数据集，进行他们自己的数据调查。数据科学教育是一个新领域，该项目将有助于发展有关如何最好地教授数据科学以及如何为学生创造有效学习环境的知识。该项目由STEM+Computing项目资助，该项目旨在通过将计算思维和计算活动应用于STEM学科的教学和学习中，解决计算STEM领域的新挑战。该项目将采用基于设计的研究框架，在城市和农村环境中开发、测试和修订学习模块。数据科学的概念包括数据的可变性、数据组织、数据结构、数据表示和统计推理。这些概念与数学和计算机科学概念有关。该项目旨在开发有关如何设计学习环境的知识，以便学生使用计算工具学习数据科学。研究问题包括检查单元的设计和学生对数据科学概念的学习。收集的数据包括对学生的访谈，对课外俱乐部和营地的观察，以及学生在模块中的工作。领导学习经验的教育工作者也将提供反馈，为修订和实施提供信息。

Data science is becoming increasingly relevant in the workplace and everyday life; therefore, there is a need for students to have opportunities to work with data and view data science as inviting and feasible. This project will focus on the integration of computer science and mathematics through data science in after-school data-science clubs and camps in rural and urban settings with middle school youth. The project will create modules for teaching and learning data science that can be shared with educators in informal and formal settings. The modules will engage youth in conducting their own data investigations using computer tools for engaging with large and small data sets. Data science education is a new field and the project will contribute to developing knowledge about how to best teach data science and how to create effective learning environments for students. The project is funded by the STEM+Computing program, which seeks to address emerging challenges in computational STEM areas through the applied integration of computational thinking and computing activities within disciplinary STEM teaching and learning in early childhood education through high school (preK-12).The project will use a design-based research framework to develop, test, and revise the learning modules in urban and rural settings. The data science concepts include variability in data, organizing data, data structure, data representations, and statistical reasoning. These concepts are connected to both mathematics and computer science concepts. The project seeks to develop knowledge about how to design learning environments for students to learn data science using computational tools. The research questions include examining the design of the units and students' learning about data science concepts. The data to be collected include interviews with students, observations from the after-school clubs and camps, and students' work from the modules. Educators who lead the learning experiences will also provide feedback to inform revision and implementation.