Facilitating Access to and Facilitating Access to and Effective Use of DataEffective Use of Data

in Education in Education Tamara Shapiro Tamara Shapiro LedleyLedley

TERCTERCCambridge, MACambridge, MA

Learning from the Frontier:Getting Planetary Data in the Hands of Educators Workshop March 14, 2004

IssuesIssues

What do we mean by data?What do we mean by data?Who are the audiences? Who are the audiences?

StudentsStudentsTeachersTeachersDevelopersDevelopers

Can the data be found?Can the data be found?Is the data in a usable format?Is the data in a usable format?Can the data be used Can the data be used meaningfully?meaningfully?

Depends on contextDepends on contextDepends on who is using itDepends on who is using it

What Do We Mean by Data?What Do We Mean by Data?

Large gap between what scientists call data and Large gap between what scientists call data and what educators call data.what educators call data.‘The word “data” reflects the experiences of the ‘The word “data” reflects the experiences of the users, the context in which they work, and the users, the context in which they work, and the questions they are trying to answer’ questions they are trying to answer’ –– Using Data Using Data in Undergraduate Science Classroomsin Undergraduate Science ClassroomsAreas where the term “data” is controversialAreas where the term “data” is controversial

Processed Processed vsvs Raw MeasurementsRaw MeasurementsModel Results Model Results vsvs ObservationsObservationsImages Images vsvs Numerical Values Defining the ImageNumerical Values Defining the Image

Who Are the Audiences?Who Are the Audiences?StudentsStudents

Need to have access to all the data and data access and analysisNeed to have access to all the data and data access and analysis tools tools seamlesslyseamlesslyNeed to have the data imbedded in an interesting context Need to have the data imbedded in an interesting context

TeachersTeachersNeed to be able to find data in an educational moduleNeed to be able to find data in an educational moduleNeed to be able to easily see how using the data fits within theNeed to be able to easily see how using the data fits within the curriculum curriculum they must teachthey must teachNeed to be able to access data and data analysis tools easily atNeed to be able to access data and data analysis tools easily at low or no low or no costcost

DevelopersDevelopersNeed to know where the data is.Need to know where the data is.Need to know how to access it.Need to know how to access it.Does not yet in an educational context.Does not yet in an educational context.Need Support from scientist/research community.Need Support from scientist/research community.

Can the Data Be Found?Can the Data Be Found?

Data Archives Data Archives –– various levels of processing for scientistsvarious levels of processing for scientistsNASA NASA DAAC’sDAAC’s, e.g. National Snow and Ice Data Center, , e.g. National Snow and Ice Data Center, http://www.http://www.nsidcnsidc.org.orgNCAR, NCAR, http://www.http://www.ucarucar..eduedu//facfac_data/data_data/data--resources.htmlresources.htmlFederation of Earth Science Information Partners Federation of Earth Science Information Partners http://www.http://www.esipfedesipfed.org.org

Digital Libraries Digital Libraries -- for educators and studentsfor educators and studentsNational Science Digital Library (NSDL), National Science Digital Library (NSDL), http://nsdl.orghttp://nsdl.orgDigital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), http://www.http://www.dlesedlese.org.org

Using Data Portal Using Data Portal –– datasets available for education but datasets available for education but not developed for educationnot developed for education–– for developers, for developers, http://http://sercserc..carletoncarleton..eduedu/research_education//research_education/usingdatausingdata/index.html/index.html

DLESEDLESE

Can the Data Be Used Meaningfully?Can the Data Be Used Meaningfully?

Over the years, many Earth science tools and Over the years, many Earth science tools and datasets have been developed for and by datasets have been developed for and by scientists and are, for the most part freely scientists and are, for the most part freely available to the publicavailable to the public

However, these data and tools have tended to be However, these data and tools have tended to be far to complex and poorly documented, rending far to complex and poorly documented, rending their use to those outside the scientific their use to those outside the scientific community extremely difficultcommunity extremely difficult

Can The Data be Used Meaningfully?Can The Data be Used Meaningfully?

DLESE Data Services DLESE Data Services http://www.dlese.org/people/info_dataservices.htmlhttp://www.dlese.org/people/info_dataservices.html

Working to bridge the gap between scientists and their Working to bridge the gap between scientists and their data and educators and student use of data through:data and educators and student use of data through:

WorkshopsWorkshopsNeeds assessmentsNeeds assessmentsIdentification of existing educational modules utilizing data Identification of existing educational modules utilizing data

Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET) Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET) http://serc.carleton.edu/eethttp://serc.carleton.edu/eet

The EET presents caseThe EET presents case--study examples of educational study examples of educational uses of Earth science datasets and scientific tools. uses of Earth science datasets and scientific tools. Each chapter in the EET presents stepEach chapter in the EET presents step--byby--step step instructions that provide users with practice using data instructions that provide users with practice using data and tools in a meaningful contextand tools in a meaningful context..

Earth Exploration ToolbookEarth Exploration Toolbook

Current EET ChaptersCurrent EET Chapters

EET ChapterEET Chapter

Developing New Chapters: Developing New Chapters: The EET Chapter TemplateThe EET Chapter Template

Making Data Available for DevelopersMaking Data Available for Developers

How Can We Facilitate Access to and How Can We Facilitate Access to and Effective Use of Data in Education?Effective Use of Data in Education?Complex IssueComplex Issue

Dependent on AudienceDependent on Audience: : Need to address different Need to address different audiences in different waysaudiences in different waysHow easily can the data be found by the audience who How easily can the data be found by the audience who requests it:requests it: Educational digital libraries are beginning to Educational digital libraries are beginning to address this issue for educators, but work needs to be done to address this issue for educators, but work needs to be done to bridge the gap between educators and scientists/researchersbridge the gap between educators and scientists/researchersIs the data in a usable format:Is the data in a usable format: Middleware developers are Middleware developers are working to address the issue of seamless access to data i.e. working to address the issue of seamless access to data i.e. translation of formats invisible to the user and access to translation of formats invisible to the user and access to distributed datasetsdistributed datasetsCan the data be used in a meaningful wayCan the data be used in a meaningful way: : Curriculum Curriculum developers are working to imbed data in educational developers are working to imbed data in educational resources that are easy to use, can be matched with standards, resources that are easy to use, can be matched with standards, and give educators stepand give educators step--byby--step instructions on how to use step instructions on how to use the data. Workshops are being run to help facilitate use of the data. Workshops are being run to help facilitate use of these resourcesthese resources

Facilitating Access to and Facilitating Access to and Effective Use of DataEffective Use of Data

in Education in Education Tamara Shapiro Tamara Shapiro LedleyLedley

TERCTERCCambridge, MACambridge, MA

Learning from the Frontier:Getting Planetary Data in the Hands of Educators Workshop March 14, 2004

IssuesIssues

What do we mean by data?What do we mean by data?Who are the audiences? Who are the audiences?

StudentsStudentsTeachersTeachersDevelopersDevelopers

Can the data be found?Can the data be found?Is the data in a usable format?Is the data in a usable format?Can the data be used Can the data be used meaningfully?meaningfully?

Depends on contextDepends on contextDepends on who is using itDepends on who is using it

What Do We Mean by Data?What Do We Mean by Data?

Large gap between what scientists call data and Large gap between what scientists call data and what educators call data.what educators call data.‘The word “data” reflects the experiences of the ‘The word “data” reflects the experiences of the users, the context in which they work, and the users, the context in which they work, and the questions they are trying to answer’ questions they are trying to answer’ –– Using Data Using Data in Undergraduate Science Classroomsin Undergraduate Science ClassroomsAreas where the term “data” is controversialAreas where the term “data” is controversial

Processed Processed vsvs Raw MeasurementsRaw MeasurementsModel Results Model Results vsvs ObservationsObservationsImages Images vsvs Numerical Values Defining the ImageNumerical Values Defining the Image

Who Are the Audiences?Who Are the Audiences?StudentsStudents

Need to have access to all the data and data access and Need to have access to all the data and data access and analysis tools seamlesslyanalysis tools seamlesslyNeed to have the data imbedded in an interesting context Need to have the data imbedded in an interesting context

TeachersTeachersNeed to be able to find data in an educational moduleNeed to be able to find data in an educational moduleNeed to be able to easily see how using the data fits within Need to be able to easily see how using the data fits within the curriculum they must teachthe curriculum they must teachNeed to be able to access data and data analysis tools easily atNeed to be able to access data and data analysis tools easily atlow or no costlow or no cost

DevelopersDevelopersNeed to know where the data is.Need to know where the data is.Need to know how to access it.Need to know how to access it.Does not yet in an educational context.Does not yet in an educational context.Need Support from scientist/research community.Need Support from scientist/research community.

Can the Data Be Found?Can the Data Be Found?Data Archives Data Archives –– various levels of processing for scientistsvarious levels of processing for scientists

NASA NASA DAAC’sDAAC’s, e.g. National Snow and Ice Data Center, , e.g. National Snow and Ice Data Center, http://www.http://www.nsidcnsidc.org.orgNCAR, NCAR, http://www.http://www.ucarucar..eduedu//facfac_data/data_data/data--resources.htmlresources.htmlFederation of Earth Science Information Partners Federation of Earth Science Information Partners http://www.esipfed.orghttp://www.esipfed.org

Digital Libraries Digital Libraries -- for educators and studentsfor educators and studentsNational Science Digital Library (NSDL), National Science Digital Library (NSDL), http://nsdl.orghttp://nsdl.orgDigital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), Digital Library for Earth System Education (DLESE), http://www.dlese.orghttp://www.dlese.org (view)(view)

Using Data Portal Using Data Portal –– datasets available for education but datasets available for education but not developed for educationnot developed for education–– for developers, for developers, http://http://sercserc..carletoncarleton..eduedu/research_education//research_education/usingdatausingdata/index.html/index.html

Can the Data Be Used Meaningfully?Can the Data Be Used Meaningfully?

Over the years, many Earth science tools and Over the years, many Earth science tools and datasets have been developed for and by datasets have been developed for and by scientists and are, for the most part freely scientists and are, for the most part freely available to the publicavailable to the public

However, these data and tools have tended to be However, these data and tools have tended to be far to complex and poorly documented, rending far to complex and poorly documented, rending their use to those outside the scientific their use to those outside the scientific community extremely difficultcommunity extremely difficult

Can The Data be Used Meaningfully?Can The Data be Used Meaningfully?

DLESE Data Services DLESE Data Services http://www.dlese.org/people/info_dataservices.htmlhttp://www.dlese.org/people/info_dataservices.html

Working to bridge the gap between scientists and their Working to bridge the gap between scientists and their data and educators and student use of data through:data and educators and student use of data through:

Data Access Working Group (DAWG)Data Access Working Group (DAWG)WorkshopsWorkshopsNeeds assessmentsNeeds assessmentsIdentification of existing educational modules utilizing data Identification of existing educational modules utilizing data

Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET) Earth Exploration Toolbook (EET) http://serc.carleton.edu/eethttp://serc.carleton.edu/eet (view)(view)

The EET presents caseThe EET presents case--study examples of educational study examples of educational uses of Earth science datasets and scientific tools. uses of Earth science datasets and scientific tools. Each chapter in the EET presents stepEach chapter in the EET presents step--byby--step step instructions that provide users with practice using data instructions that provide users with practice using data and tools in a meaningful contextand tools in a meaningful context..

How Can We Facilitate Access to and How Can We Facilitate Access to and Effective Use of Data in Education?Effective Use of Data in Education?Complex IssueComplex Issue

Dependent on AudienceDependent on Audience: : Need to address different Need to address different audiences in different waysaudiences in different waysHow easily can the data be found by the audience who How easily can the data be found by the audience who requests it:requests it: Educational digital libraries are beginning to Educational digital libraries are beginning to address this issue for educators, but work needs to be done to address this issue for educators, but work needs to be done to bridge the gap between educators and scientists/researchersbridge the gap between educators and scientists/researchersIs the data in a usable format:Is the data in a usable format: Middleware developers are Middleware developers are working to address the issue of seamless access to data i.e. working to address the issue of seamless access to data i.e. translation of formats invisible to the user, and access to translation of formats invisible to the user, and access to distributed datasetsdistributed datasetsCan the data be used in a meaningful wayCan the data be used in a meaningful way: : Curriculum Curriculum developers are working to imbed data in educational developers are working to imbed data in educational resources that are easily to use, can be matched with resources that are easily to use, can be matched with standards, and give educators stepstandards, and give educators step--byby--step instructions on step instructions on how to use the datahow to use the data