Citizen Science Boosts Data Learning 🌊

The Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Citizen Science program, Vital Signs, uses student collected data as a foundation from which to support students in describing and understanding variability in data. The experience starts with questions that have real world significance and continues with students’ data collection and contribution efforts. Data collection in the field builds context and provides a critical groundwork for developing data literacy skills and statistical habits of mind. In this talk, we will guide participants through a learning progression that supports Middle School students in navigating increasingly complex datasets, provide opportunities to explore citizen science data, and share feedback from classrooms.


Christine Voyer is Program Manager for the Gulf of Maine Research Institute’s Vital Signs citizen science and science education program. Molly Auclair coordinates teacher professional development and Meggie Harvey specializes in curriculum development to support authentic scientific investigation in middle school classrooms.