Data Analysis as a Component of Inquiry-Based Science Instruction for Elementary- Undergraduate Students

Recent efforts from the NSF-funded SCALE (System-wide Change for All Learners and Educators) project have led to the enrichment of science inquiry-based instruction in elementary, secondary, and university classrooms. The SCALE initiative seeks to enhance the quality of K-20 science education through the two-pronged approach of 1) Creating science inquiry-based curricula (termed Immersion Units), and 2) Facilitating the professional development of science educators (elementary and secondary teachers, and university faculty) to teach science using a student-centered, evidence-based pedagogy. Evidence which students must analyze in this inquiry- based approach are frequently published, scientific data sets. This presentation will discuss the pedagogy and materials for several such inquiry-based, data-rich assignments that have been developed for elementary and university science classrooms. These include the analyses of National Weather Service meteorological data for precipitation and severe weather, and NOAA Paleoclimatology ice core records.