Data Paths

Project Director:

Funded by:

Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Duration:

2023-Present

Challenge

Data have become ubiquitous in everyday life. Evaluating, analyzing, and communicating with data are now essential skills in every industry. However, demand for workers with data skills has been outpacing supply, and employers across the United States report that data science and analytics jobs are some of the most difficult to fill. K–12 schools need to play a larger role in helping individuals develop data skills to help them thrive in today’s technology- and information-based society.

The Data Paths project, funded by the state of Massachusetts, is working to help K–12 schools provide students with opportunities to gain fundamental data literacy skills that are needed in the workforce and in civic life today. To achieve this goal, Data Paths is developing resources and professional learning opportunities to help K–12 educators in Massachusetts integrate data practices and career information into existing curricula.

Key Activities

Over three years, the Data Paths team—including EDC curriculum developers, researchers, and professional learning facilitators—will collaborate with teachers and students from across Massachusetts to develop and refine the following resources:

  • A Data Literacy Crosswalk and Standards Guide to help K–12 STEM educators integrate important data practices into existing curricula as they address learning standards in their discipline
  • Model curriculum units that give students opportunities to investigate compelling questions with real-world datasets in high school biology, chemistry, and physics and middle school mathematics classes
  • Instructional routines to help elementary and middle school mathematics educators incorporate data practices into their teaching throughout the school year
  • Professional learning workshops to support educators in using the project’s instructional and curriculum resources
  • A Compendium of Data Science Certificate and Degree Programs in Massachusetts for secondary and postsecondary students seeking skills and credentials for data careers
  • A hub of data career information and profiles of data scientists in a variety of fields to help students learn about and envision possible futures in data careers

Our Impact

  • The project plans to reach almost 500 elementary, middle, and high-school teachers in Massachusetts with professional development to help them gain strategies for integrating data practices and the project’s curriculum materials into their instruction.
  • Through our work with districts across Massachusetts, we seek to provide close to 10,000 students in grades K–12 with greater exposure to and opportunities to develop important data practices that are critical for navigating today’s data-filled world.