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Stanford University's Graduate School of Education has introduced a new educational unit, Basketball Data Analytics, designed to integrate data science with sports. Developed by Professor Jo Boaler in collaboration with Stanford's women's basketball team, the initiative aims to enhance students' understanding of data through engaging activities related to basketball.

"The impetus for developing this was the realization that students really need experience with data," said Boaler. She emphasized the importance of making sense of data visuals and analyzing data as part of the school curriculum.

The lessons are intended for students in grades four through ten and include activities such as calculating shooting percentages and evaluating player statistics using mathematical concepts like mean, median, and mode. The goal is to help students connect math concepts to real-world applications.

Mahi Jariwala, a Stanford freshman who contributed to the project, noted the interactive nature of the lesson plan: "I think it’s exciting because it’s an interactive lesson plan that exposes students to learning data science in a way that incorporates math with sports."

Shelby Craig, a math teacher at Fallon Middle School in Dublin, California, piloted the course before its official release. "It was cool to see the different data points each group chose," she said.

To ensure accessibility for those unfamiliar with basketball, the unit begins with an introduction to the game. Videos featuring Stanford players Mary Ashley Stevenson and Nunu Agara provide additional insights into basketball fundamentals.

Stevenson shared her perspective on combining sports and education: "Despite not identifying as a math kid from a young age, I was inspired by the idea that the game I love can be used to teach it."

Boaler hopes this initiative will broaden students' perceptions of how math can be applied beyond traditional classroom settings. She stated, "We want them to get from this unit that you don’t have to be an athlete to be involved in basketball."

Last fall, children attending a pre-season game between Stanford and UC Davis participated as sports data analysts by recording game statistics on data cards. Jariwala highlighted this opportunity: "It was a cool opportunity for students to come out to the basketball game and be the data keepers."

Boaler plans to incorporate similar activities at future Stanford games. She expressed satisfaction with seeing these activities implemented in classrooms: "Having that collaboration with the team was really great."

This story originated from Stanford Graduate School of Education.