THE 21ST CENTURY SCIENCE EDUCATION CHALLENGE

The collection and analysis of big data - high volume, high velocity, and high variety data streams (3HV) is transforming the research world and the marketplace. Scientific research based on data synthesis yields discoveries as powerful as laboratory and field-based investigation. Yet teaching big data techniques is not yet prevalent in the classroom, in curricula, or informal science education. The STEM workforce needs tools to make good use of the massive volumes of heterogeneous data now available and students should be exposed to these datasets early and often to prepare them for their future. This paper examines a Professional Development (PD) model that provides teachers with exposure, experience, and time to absorb this information. In doing so, these teachers are better able to introduce and incorporate 3HV data in their own science classrooms.