GCDJ Overview - Welcome to the Gulf Coast Data Jam!
Purpose: The inaugural Data Jam aims to empower students to develop data fluency using datasets collected in their community.
Why Jam local data?
- Students can more easily connect with patterns, issues, and stories when data comes from their own community (e.g., Pensacola Bay water quality, local bird counts, UWF Archaeology Institute findings)
- Projects can directly support local stakeholders—environmental groups, schools, city planners, or nonprofits—by transforming data into accessible stories or products
- Archaeological data helps tell the story of how humans lived, worked, and adapted in the past, providing insight into cultural practices, technology, and social structures
- Analyzing data from their own backyard gives students ownership and can spark advocacy and action
- Students create a 3D artifact or artistic representation such as a sculpture, model, visual installation, song, poem, video, or other creative medium
- Students can share findings locally at community events, city council meetings, or with advocacy groups
Types of datasets: Two datasets for students to choose from:
- Water-focused dataset provided by Dr. Matthew Schwartz of UWF, Download
- Data from St. Michael's Cemetery provided by Jennifer Melcher and the UWF Archaeology Institute, Download
Levels of Data: This year features Level 1 datasets (simple), with plans to develop datasets from Level 1 to Level 3 (complex)
Student Involvement: Beginning in the 2025/26 school year, students will:
- Explore datasets in their science classrooms
- Learn to identify trends and draw conclusions
- Utilize mathematical analysis and graphing techniques
- Create a report of their findings following the provided rubric
- Transform findings into a creative product of their choice (songs, plays, models, 3-dimensional art pieces, video, presentations, etc.)
25/26 Student Involvement: Approximately 100 students projected, working individually or in groups up to 3
Showcase: Rather than hosting a competition, the GCDJ will showcase students' work. The 25/26 event will be held at either the participating school or a 3rd party sponsor.
Judges: Volunteer judges will review students' work, providing constructive feedback and suggestions to all participants.
Dataset Introduction - Change in Sea Level at Battery Park Dataset (from Hudson River Data Jam)
Introduction: Oceans have high and low tides, so the elevation of the ocean's surface is constantly changing. Scientists interested in changes in sea level study long-term patterns using summarized data. Measuring sea level at different locations is important for understanding local and global impacts of climate change.
About the Data: Scientists calculate an average sea level every 20-25 years, called a National Tidal Datum Epoch (NTDE). The most recent NTDE is calculated from measurements made from 1983-2001. The data compare the average sea level of each year to this NTDE average, showing how much higher or lower the sea was during that year. A negative number means the average sea level was lower, a positive number means it was higher, zero means it was the same as the NTDE, and blanks are years when data was not collected. The data covers the years 1856-2014.
Data Collection Location: Battery, NYC
Variables:
- Year
- Difference from NTDE Average Sea Level (m)
Data Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Ocean Service
Prepared by: Hala Rosa Saad (Brooklyn Prospect Charter High School) & Suzanne Zekonis (Chapin Middle School)
Educational Tools and Insights Driving Data Growth.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Coming Soon