Zoom In: Teaching Science with Data

Challenge

In an ever more data-driven world, there is a growing need for students and citizens to understand and use data—including data on current challenges such as climate change—with increasing fluency. Educators have found, however, that bringing authentic data sets into the classroom can be a challenge.

Through Zoom In! Teaching Science with Data, EDC infused data literacy into high school biology and earth science instruction. Zoom In’s instructional design helps teachers integrate the teaching of science content with exercises that build students skills in analyzing data and using it as evidence as they explain and argue about science phenomena.

Zoom In! Teaching Science with Data is modeled on the award-winning digital platform Zoom In! History.

Key Activities

EDC staff working on Zoom In! Teaching Science with Data engaged in the following work:

Designed, developed, and tested data-rich digital curriculum modules related to biology and earth science, including climate science, climate change, and biology
Identified strategies to effectively support teachers in engaging students in exploring climate science, climate change, earth science, and data science

Impact

EDC developed and tested six modules:

Climate: How Is Climate Really Changing?
Plate Tectonics: What South American City Is at Greatest Risk of a Major Earthquake?
Exoplanets: Where Will We Find the Next Earth?
Population Divergence: How Are Island Lizards Changing in the Skyros Archipelago?
Trophic Cascades: What Happened When Wolves Were Reintroduced to Yellowstone?
Polymorphism: What Makes Some Mammals Molt?