This project aims to use a new pedagogical framework to create resources that emphasize real-world applications for data-driven decision-making. Each resource will include a series of narratives (websites), where each narrative introduces a specific research question with a corresponding dataset, discussion questions, and an interactive data visualization tool. One set of resources will allow students to design and test roller coasters. The first coaster narrative will focus on using an interactive web application to help students understand the concept of slope. Additional narratives will grow in complexity until students learn to construct and analyze coasters based on various mathematical or statistical concepts, such as optimization or fitting polynomial regression models. A similar set of resources will have a series of narratives on public policy and the spread of COVID-19. These new materials will be designed, developed, and class-tested in multiple courses. All created resources will be freely available online. By integrating the known benefits of activity-based learning with the advantages of modern technology tools, this project will facilitate the development of quantitative reasoning skills for students in any field making data-based decisions.
