Publications

The study of Atlantic puffins among Maine middle-school science students provides a fascinating subject for integrating ecology, ornithology, and data practices. Atlantic puffins have made a remarkable comeback in Maine over the last 50 years under the leadership of ornithologist Stephen Kress and the National Audubon Society's Seabird Institute (Kress & Jackson, 2020). Studying the extent to which this seabird population has changed, and the reasons for these changes, is the focus of the Puffins curriculum project (Tumblehome, n.d.; NSF DRL-2241777). The curriculum combines a place-based narrative with data activities, work with AI, and hands-on experiences, such as building puffin burrows. The curriculum employs the integrated approach of scientific sensemaking (Cannady et al, 2019; Mokros et al., 2025) in which scientific knowledge is inseparable from scientific methods like analyzing data.

Suggested citation:
Sagrans, J., Mokros, J., & Noyce, P. (2026). Puffins!: Scientific sensemaking and improving middle school students' attitudes towards data. Poster presented at the American Educational Research Association Annual Meeting, Los Angeles, CA, April 10, 2026. https://aera26.ipostersessions.com/default.aspx?s=34-4A-E1-27-6F-54-FF-DD-5C-51-68-DE-CB-BF-C6-2F