STEM Elective: Data Detectives

In this hands-on STEM elective, students step into the shoes of modern-day researchers to solve scientific "cold cases" using the Data Nuggets framework. Each session introduces students to a real scientist and the specific questions they are trying to answer—ranging from animal behavior to environmental changes.

Rather than looking at clean, textbook examples, students receive raw data from actual studies and must determine the best way to visualize it to reveal hidden patterns. The course focuses heavily on the Claim-Evidence-Reasoning (CER) model, challenging students to look past simple correlations and identify the true logic of evidence. By the end of the year, students will be proficient in data interpretation, graphical analysis, and the critical thinking skills required to navigate a data-driven world.