CONCEPTS TO COVER

Concepts to cover when using Data Nuggets in the classroom

What is a Hypothesis?

• Strode (2015) Hypothesis Generation in Biology: A Science Teaching Challenge & Potential Solution. The American Biology Teacher, 77(7): 500-506.
• The difference between a prediction and hypothesis – Paul Strode
• Writing a scientific hypothesis (teacher guide) (student guide) – Paul Strode
• Hypotheses and theories explained – Understanding Science, UC Berkley
• Hypothesis misconceptions – Understanding Science, UC Berkley
• Hypotheses vs. predictions – blog post from Psychology Today
• Scientific vs. Statistical Hypotheses

The Process of Science

• What is science?
• Science as a process (flowchart)
  • Lesson using Understanding Science’s flowchart
• Understanding Science’s teacher resources
• FAQ about how science works
• What is Science? video – Science Forward
• Observational vs. Hypothesis Driven Studies

Reading Scientific Texts

• Data Nugget Guide to Reading a Scientific Paper
• Content area reading strategies – Journey North
• How to read a scientific article – Rice University

Constructing Explanations using Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER)

• Using the CER Framework – Conversation between Dr. Kate McNeill and Dr. Joe Krajcik, authors of the book on CER
• Data Nugget CER Scaffolding Tool for Constructing Explanations
• BSCS Scientific Explanation Scaffolding Tool and Student Guide
• American Museum of Natural History CER Scaffolding Tool

Graphing

• Data Nugget Guide to Graphing
• Graph Choice Chart (GCC) – a tool to help students turn data into evidence
  • Graph Choice Chart with student graph examples
  • Graph Choice Chart by TUVA Labs
  • Associated publication from the Maine Data Literacy Project
• AP Biology Quantitative Skills – a guide for teachers
• The Fundamentals of Data Visualization – a guide to making visualizations that accurately reflect the data, tell a story, and look professional. Grown out of experience working with students and postdocs in my laboratory on thousands of data visualizations.
• Data Points – HHMI – interpret and discuss figures from primary literature

Basic Statistics

• HHMI Teacher Guide: Math and Statistics – Topics include measures of average (mean, median, mode), variability (range, standard deviation), uncertainty (standard error, 95% confidence interval), Chi-square analysis, student t-test, Hardy-Weinberg equation, frequency calculations, and more.
• Data and Error Analysis in Science – Beginners Guide (mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, variance, standard error, and confidence intervals) – Strode and Brokaw
• Teaching Statistics: Going from Scary, Boring, and Useless to, Well, Something Better
• EDDIE Statistical Vignettes – focused on developing quantitative concepts commonly used in the analysis of data, and intended to help students address statistical misconceptions and improve their quantitative reasoning skills.
• MathBench – These modules introduce students (and anyone else who’s interested) to the mathematical underpinnings of what they learn in introductory biology courses. But unlike a textbook, the modules are not full of equations and proofs. Instead, we try to bring math to life using intuitive approaches, everyday situations, and even humor.
• Error Bars – Interpretation of SD, SE, and CI
• Teaching independent vs. dependent variables
• ANOVA – Student Guide – Paul Strode
• Regression Analysis – Student Guide – Paul Strode
• Chi-square Test – Student Guide – Paul Strode
• t-test – Student Guide – Paul Strode
• Mean, standard deviation (SD), standard error (SE)
  • Lesson plan
  • Worksheets: (red) (blue)
• Standard error (SE) visualization tool – explore the effects of variance and sample size on SE
• Variable types, t-test, regression
  • Lesson plan
  • Case studies: (A) (B) (C)
• Flowchart for statistics used in biology – Paul Strode
• Statistics for Biologists – nature.com
• How do you know? A podcast exploring the numbers behind our beliefs, and everything in between.

Data Literacy

• Data Literacy Project
• Youcubed – Data literacy resources for K-12
• Using Data in the Classroom – information or background about pedagogical or practical issues in using data in the classroom
• DataONE –
  • Data Management
  • Data Stories – success stories and cautionary tales from researchers related to their experiences with managing and sharing scientific research data
• Keeping a paper trail: basic data management skills for reproducible science