July 14-19
William & Mary
Williamsburg, VA
Working with data has always been an important component of biology education. Now biologically relevant data is ubiquitous and accessible in new and exciting ways. There is a growing trend to encourage the open sharing of research data through data repositories like Dryad. Students are also collecting their own data easily with portable sensors and handheld devices. Engaging students with data allows them to practice the scientific process, ask questions, formulate and test hypotheses, and develop scientific skills such as data collection and management. Furthermore, preparing students for the 21st century workforce requires an interdisciplinary approach which includes skills from mathematics, statistics, computer science and now, data science. Data science is an emerging field that is developing practices to manage the burgeoning access to data and powerful analytic tools. Importantly, data science has been identified as a way to reach a more diverse set of students by addressing socially relevant problems, while acknowledging the ethical and social impacts of scientific work. In this workshop we will explore how to build on the ways data is currently used in classrooms to introduce students to appropriate data science practices.
This workshop will focus on how data science practices can enhance biology education. Participants will work with colleagues to develop and adapt teaching materials that use data and quantitative skills to engage students with meaningful biological problems. We will consider which aspects of data science are most relevant to biology education, and how to incorporate these ideas in the existing curriculum. We will explore effective pedagogical approaches for incorporating data science in the classroom.
Who should attend?
The workshop focuses on teaching biology; however interdisciplinary teams are strongly encouraged. Teams including colleagues from other scientific disciplines, mathematics, statistics, and computer science—as well as liberal arts—would be highly productive at this meeting. The workshop is appropriate for college faculty from two- and four-year institutions and high school faculty. Limited scholarships are available to help defray the cost of registration, and there is a special program for future faculty.
Keynote Address:
Karen Cangialosi
Sunday, July 14
7:00 pm
Karen Cangialosi is Coordinator of Faculty Enrichment and Professor of Biology at Keene State College. She also serves as the KSC Open Education Faculty Fellow where she facilitates an Open Pedagogy Faculty Learning Community, and is co-leader of KSC Open, a Domain of One’s Own campus project. Read more about Dr. Cangialosi
