The Fourth R: Using R for Data Visualization in the Science Classroom

R, the free, open-access computer software package for scientific graphs and calculations, has become a leading tool in data science. R can be installed on most computers (or accessed for free on online servers), and the basics of its use are easy to learn. With R, students have free access to professional quality routines for data visualization, data wrangling, and data analysis. We provide two tutorial lessons on using R in the form of hands-on labs featuring earth science data (Old Faithful geyser prediction). The lessons are easily adapted for data from other STEM subjects. One of the authors (LW) successfully incorporated such lessons into live science laboratories while teaching in Idaho public schools in grades 6-12. The lessons engage numerous points in the Next Generation Standards for earth science along with points in other sciences and in Math and ELA Common Core Standards. Moreover, the lessons represent a first, inviting experience with “coding” and “modeling” that students recognize as important skills. The lessons begin with simply cutting/pasting short portions of pre-written R code, allowing students to become familiar with how R commands work. We close with a discussion of the advantages of incorporating R use in STEM education.