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，学生需要有机会使用数据，并将数据科学视为诱人和可行的。该项目将侧重于在农村和城市与中学青年一起的课外数据科学俱乐部和夏令营中通过数据科学将计算机科学和数学相结合。该项目将创建教与学数据科学的模块，可在非正式和正式环境中与教育工作者分享。这些单元将使青年利用计算机工具进行自己的数据调查，以处理大大小小的数据集。数据科学教育是一个新的领域，该项目将有助于发展关于如何最好地教授数据科学以及如何为学生创造有效的学习环境的知识。该项目由STEM+计算计划资助，该计划旨在通过将计算思维和计算活动应用于从高中到高中的幼儿教育(Pre-K-12)的STEM学科教与学中，解决计算STEM领域新出现的挑战。该项目将使用基于设计的研究框架来开发、测试和修改城市和农村环境中的学习模块。数据科学的概念包括数据的可变性、组织数据、数据结构、数据表示和统计推理。这些概念都与数学和计算机科学的概念相关联。该项目旨在发展关于如何设计学习环境的知识，让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学习数据科学概念的情况。收集的数据包括对学生的访谈，课外俱乐部和夏令营的观察，以及学生在单元中的工作。领导学习经验的教育工作者也将提供反馈，为修改和实施提供信息。

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.