An Onramp to Data Science in the Science Classroom

Since 2011, WestEd and UC Berkeley have partnered with educators to bring NASA's GLOBE program into classrooms. Teachers lead students in real field-based science, including gathering local environmental data, contributing to NASA’s global database, and presenting findings to working scientists. The result is stronger STEM identity and research skills.

WestEd’s professional learning helps educators build and sustain rigorous, high-quality teaching. Explore upcoming sessions that will teach you how to improve literacy and writing instruction across subject areas, enrich math instruction using generative AI, and more.

How can students use data to investigate the places they know best? In this post, originally published on NextGenScience’s On the Same Wavelength blog, WestEd’s Sara Salisbury, Leticia Perez, and Karen Lionberger illustrate how the PLACES (Place-Based Learning to Advance Connections, Education, and Stewardship) project helps educators connect local questions, community knowledge, and science practices through place-based, data-rich instruction.

WestEd’s Making Sense of Data professional learning supports teachers in building students’ confidence and skills through authentic, data-rich STEM learning experiences designed to strengthen inquiry and critical thinking.

This recorded webinar, presented by WestEd’s Ann Edwards, Sarah Rainier, and Drew Nucci, draws on in-depth case studies from the IES-funded AmplifyGAIN Center to show how math and science teachers are using AI for planning, differentiation, content-specific professional learning, and student-centered learning experiences.