Data analysis can often feel intimidating to K-12 students, especially those with math anxiety. To help instructors engage young learners with scientific data analysis, researchers at Michigan State University's W.K. Kellogg Biological Station created Data Nuggets, a series of authentic classroom activities that make use of "messy" scientific data. Developed in collaboration with K-12 educators, these activities bring real data into the classroom. Science teachers can currently browse 54 different Data Nuggets by content level or keyword. Each Nugget is based on the research of a current science graduate student and includes a set of data, a teacher's guide, a variety of classroom activities, and a grading rubric. For instance, in Dangerously Bold, students learn about the research of Melissa Kjelvik on the "boldness," or willingness to take risks, of bluegill sunfish. Students must examine data in order to independently evaluate Kjelvik hypothesis. Data Nuggets provides students with a unique opportunity to sharpen their mathematical and inference skills while learning about real-world scientific research - and a possible career path for themselves.
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