Power of Data Project

The Power of Data (POD) Project is a highly-effective professional learning and development model that has been tested and refined by research over the past 11 years.

POD helps educators build the skills necessary to design learning activities using an instructional  framework called  Geospatial Inquiry . Grounded in seven key principles derived from learning sciences, Geospatial Inquiry guides learners to use ArcGIS Online to make sense of patterns and relationships in data to explain phenomena and to effectively communicate what they have learned using maps and visualizations of data as evidence to support arguments.

During POD courses and workshops, educators learn through Geospatial Inquiry before they consider teaching with Geospatial Inquiry. This approach enables educators to appreciate the learner experience and to anticipate potential barriers and solutions in preparation for designing lessons.

To date, POD has reached an estimated 15,130 educators and learners across 31 states. Participating educators  increased their technological and pedagogical knowledge and skills , confidence teaching with Geospatial Inquiry, and  implemented lessons  which provided students opportunities to engage in the analysis and interpretation of data for the purpose of explaining a phenomenon, answering a question, or solving a problem. Pedagogical practices persisted one to two years after the program ended.

This story and maps that follow show the impact of the POD Project on teaching and learning, how the program moved to a national scale, and its projected growth into the future. 

The Power of Data (POD) Project has been made possible by the National Science Foundation (DUE # 0929846, DUE 1304872, and DRL #1513287). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.