Building Data Fluency and Generative AI Literacy Through Data Adventures

NSF Award Search · 04002526DB NSF STEM Education · $1,463,000 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

The growing importance of data, data science and artificial intelligence (AI) in education, work, and personal and civic life has increased the need for all U.S. students to develop data literacy, statistical reasoning, and computational thinking skills. However, most middle school students--especially those with learning disabilities (SLD)--receive limited or no instruction in these areas. Data science and AI instruction is often limited to high school settings, narrowly framed within mathematics or science, and rarely designed with the flexibility to support learner variability. As a result, too many students including those with SLD are less likely to develop foundational data fluency or see themselves as future contributors to data science or AI-related fields, long term consequences for U.S. competitiveness in these fields. It is essential to design inclusive, engaging, and forward-looking instructional experiences that provide all students with meaningful on-ramps to data science and AI fluency. The purpose of this project is to develop and refine Data Adventures, a series of open-access, modular, and instructional experiences units designed to introduce middle school students to data literacy, computational thinking, and digital storytelling, while also promoting critical understanding of AI and its role in education, work technology, and everyday life. Each Data Adventure will be embedded in a core content area (math, science, English language arts, or technology),

Key facts

NSF award ID
2509929
Awardee
WestEd (CA)
SAM.gov UEI
WNCAQMKJ7WZ9
PI
Jose Blackorby
Primary program
04002526DB NSF STEM Education
All programs
Research in Disabilties Education, STEM Learning & Learning Environments
Estimated total
$1,463,000
Funds obligated
$1,463,000
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
09/01/2025 → 08/31/2028