Our team has developed a new high school course, in collaboration with Google, called Explorations in Data Science: Youcubed Adaptable Curriculum. It introduces students to the main ideas in data science through free tools such as Google Sheets, Python and Data Commons. Students will learn to be data explorers in project-based units, through which they will develop their understanding of data analysis, sampling, correlation/causation, bias and uncertainty, probability, modeling with data, making and evaluating data-based arguments, the power of data in society, and more! At the end of the course students will have a portfolio of their data science work to showcase their newly developed abilities. The curriculum is adaptable so that teachers can bring in datasets or use what is provided to find datasets most relevant to their students. The course has received A-G approval, so it can be taken as an alternative to Algebra 2, or in addition to Algebra 2. It can lead to a pathway in calculus, statistics, data science, other STEM or humanities subjects.
