Brought to you by NMLSTA and the NSTA Middle Level Teaching Committee

Join Us for Our Next Webinar Featuring Jon Griffith and Bridget Walsh, both from the Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

 

Integrating Real-World Data & Data Sensemaking Strategies with Data Puzzles

Wednesday, February 25, 2026

7:00 p.m. ET, 6:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. MT, 4:00 p.m. PT

Data sense-making is the process by which students explore, analyze and interpret data as they seek to make sense of science phenomena (Griffith et al. 2026, in press). It is central to students’ ability to think critically, draw evidence-based conclusions, and engage in authentic science practices. In this workshop, participants will unpack what data sense-making practices (e.g., describe visual patterns) are and engage with strategies that support the enactment of these practices.

 

In this webinar, we will collaboratively explore three data sense-making strategies (Zoom In, Slow Reveal, Notice/Think/Wonder), in the context of real-word climate data and freely available Data Puzzle lesson plans and resources, to broaden participants' tool-kits for integrating data into their own curricula.

Presenters:

 

Jon is a Data Puzzles curriculum developer and professional learning facilitator with the CIRES Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation at the University of Colorado Boulder. As a former middle school science teacher, Jon is passionate about connecting MS/HS students to contemporary real-world data by developing innovative resources.

Bridget joined the Data Puzzles team a few months ago, after having spent more than a decade in Colorado’s Adams12 school district; first as a middle school science teacher and most recently as one of the district’s science coordinators. Bridget has extensive experience developing and modifying curricula to align with the NGSS.

The Data Puzzles team believes that students should learn science the same way scientists do - through exploration, discovery, and sense-making grounded in observations of the natural world. In a way, science is like a puzzle - the bigger picture is revealed after hunting for and putting the pieces together. 

Data Puzzles (https://datapuzzles.org ) is part of the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) in the Center for Education, Engagement, and Evaluation (CEEE) at the University of Colorado Boulde

 ~~

TO SIGN UP FOR THIS WEBINAR CLICK HERE

~~

A certificate indicating you have engaged in one hour of professional development will be available to those who attend the webinar in person and request it.

The presentation will be recorded and placed on the NMLSTA website https://nmlsta.wildapricot.org/ where it will be available for members.

2025-2026 Webinar Schedule

Click on the "Members Only" tab above to watch the videos of previous Webinars

(You must be logged-in)

September 25, 2025

Suzanne Cunningham: LEGO(TM) Chemistry

October 21, 2025

   Suzanne Zilvetti: Show What You Know: Empowering Students with Science Portfolios    

 November 18, 2025

   Emily Hawbaker: Teaching Energy & Creating Energy Team - Kids Teaching Kids!    

December 2, 2025

Missy Holzer & Donna Governor - Empowering Students to Think Critically with Model-Evidence Link Diagrams

 January 15, 2026

Katy Garvey - MySciLife
 February 25, 2026

    Jon Griffith & Bridget Walsh -  Explore Data Sensemaking Strategies in the Context of Climate Phenomena with Data Puzzles    

March 24, 2026

Rachel Arbor - Integrating Environmental Literacy into the Classroom

April 15-18, 2026

NSTA National Conference

Anaheim, CA

The presentations will be recorded and placed on the NMLSTA website where it will be available for members.

To access the recordings of previous webinars, click on the "Members-Only" link  in the header strip.