Publications: Our first paper on Data Nuggets is in the January 2015 issue of the American Biology Teacher. We hope this paper introduces Data Nuggets to a broader audience of teachers. Click here for a PDF!
Schultheis, E. H. and M. K. Kjelvik (2015). Data Nuggets: Bringing Real Data into the Classroom to Unearth Students’ Quantitative and Inquiry Skills. The American Biology Teacher 77(1):19-29.
We were published in the June 2019 issue of CBE Life Sciences Education available open access online. Click here for a PDF!
Kjelvik, M. K. and E. H. Schultheis (2019). Getting messy with authentic data: Exploring the potential of using data from scientific research to support student data literacy. CBE Life Sciences Education 18(2): es2.
Our most recent paper is out in the September 2020 issue of The American Biology Teacher! Click here for a PDF!
Schultheis, E. H. and M. K. Kjelvik (2020). Using messy, authentic data to promote data literacy and reveal the nature of science. The American Biology Teacher 82(7): 439-446.
NSF IUSE Research Study: We are collaborating with Project Biodiversify on a new grant, with the goal of increasing the representation in our scientist role models found in Data Nuggets.
Press release coming soon!
NSF DRK-12 Research Study: We just completed our first research study, in partnership with BSCS and BEACON at MSU. Using a fully randomized design, we evaluated the effectiveness of integrating Data Nuggets into science curriculum. We found that students in classrooms using Data Nuggets:
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Spent more time engaged in the practices of science.
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Were better at constructing scientific explanations, including their ability to support claims using data as evidence.
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Had greater confidence (self-efficacy) in their science and data literacy abilities.
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Showed greater motivation to engage in science and pursue STEM careers.
For a press release on the project, check out the page on MSU’s website here.
BEACON: Data Nuggets are funded by several grants through the BEACON Center at Michigan State University. The goal of this collaboration is to hold science communication professional development workshops across all 5 BEACON institutions, create evolution-themed curriculum to use in K-12 and undergraduate classrooms, and disseminate BEACON research to share true stories of the process of evolution research.
- Enhancing BEACON’s educational legacy with a set of curricular materials derived from our center’s research (2020)
- Bringing Data to Life in Science Classrooms (2016)
- Data on Data Nuggets: Assessing the efficacy of an innovative science education resource to build a foundation for future support (2015)
- Taking Data Nuggets to the national level (2014)
- Data Nuggets: Unearthing Inquiry skills (2013)
LTER Data Nuggets: Data Nuggets were funded by the KBS LTER to develop new activities that focus on available long-term datasets, and expand students’ exposure to data of different levels of complexity. To explore these resources, check out this page!
