
ABOUT US
Welcome to Teaching Data Literacy for Social Studies—a dedicated resource hub for elementary and secondary social studies educators seeking to integrate data literacy into their classrooms. Here, you will discover a wealth of curated materials, including primary source and secondary source data visualizations, data literacy-centered lesson plans, guides for using data visualization tools, and a variety of other resources.
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Our goal is to empower teachers and students to navigate today's data-rich environment, while also supporting deep learning in history and other social studies subjects, where data and data visualizations are important modes of information. Our initiative is strengthened by collaborations with teams of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as other academic and community partners, whose diverse expertise in history, computer and data science, statistics, education, and other academic disciplines fuels our commitment to innovation. By blending academic research with practical teaching applications and strategies, we strive to enhance classroom instruction and foster critical data analysis skills among young learners.
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Join us on this journey to bridge the gap between data and social studies, transforming traditional education into a dynamic learning experience.
Meet The Team
Graduate Assistants
Research Assistants

Ellie Zimmerman
Ellie Zimmermann worked on the data visualization aspect of the slow reveal project during her time at Grand Valley State University. Her experience working with slow reveal graphs allowed her to develop and strengthen her coding skills in R. This project ignited her passion for research, and that passion has carried into her present studies. Ellie is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at Michigan Technological University where she is conducting in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) research at the Planetary Surface Technology Development Lab. Once she completes her bachelor’s degree, Ellie intends to continue her involvement in ISRU research while she pursues a PhD in aerospace engineering