The Hubble Data Story: Practicing Data Skills through Exploration of Authentic Astronomical Data

Cosmic Data Stories (CosmicDS) are free, online resources that offer interactive pathways for exploring and learning from data. Students access authentic astronomical data through investigations that are powered by the same visualization tools professional astronomers use, but with updated, learner-friendly interfaces that are appropriately scaffolded for novices. In the Hubble Data Story (HubbleDS), students answer a significant question, “How do we know the age of the universe?” by making velocity and distance measurements of galaxies using data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey. Students compare their galaxy and age measurements with those of their classmates, allowing them to explore statistical concepts and contemplate what it means to have confidence in a measured result. In-class evaluations of HubbleDS show significant gains in science content knowledge, STEM identity, and understanding of the nature of science, with large percentages of students and educators noting that the activity was enjoyable and worthwhile.