George Mason University’s College of Science partners with the Shenandoah Valley Virginia educational institutions to launch new Lab School focusing on high schoolers' data literacy
The Virginia Board of Education approved funding for George Mason to launch the Shenandoah Valley Rural Regional College Partnership Laboratory School for Data Science, Computing and Applications (DSCA Lab School). This is a collaborative partnership between George Mason University and Frederick County Public Schools, as well as six rural and rural-fringe school districts in the Shenandoah Valley including Clarke County, Fauquier County, Page County, Shenandoah County, Warren County, and Winchester Public Schools, along with Mountain Vista Governor’s School and Laurel Ridge Community College.
This recently approved Virginia Lab School is one of only 14 available in the state. It will support 10th through 12th grade students through academic programming that fosters data literacy and showcases the latest innovations in STEM. Programming will cover data science and computing, research opportunities, apprenticeships and internships, experiential and project-based learning, certifications and micro-credentials in data analytics, opportunities to earn an associate’s degree and college credits, as well as work-based learning opportunities. Students begin preparing for the lab-school during their sophomore year, with programming starting in their junior and senior years.
“The vision is to create a data literate workforce empowered with skills, knowledge and the mindset necessary to solve problems in a data driven world,” said George Mason mathematical sciences professor Padhu Seshaiyer who will lead the effort.
But how do you foster data literacy?
Seshaiyer said that traditionally, courses start by teaching students key STEM theories and models, followed by guidance on applying these concepts to problem-solving. In contrast, DSCA will reverse this approach by guiding students through identifying the initial question they wish to address motivated by a real-world problem and then navigating the data to find solutions.
“If you want to know the best place to swim in the Shenandoah River, what data do you need to determine the answer?” Seshaiyer gave as an example. “Students might first collect samples to measure bacteria upstream versus downstream or look up information on public databases.” This, he explained, would be followed by students cleaning and processing the collected data before interpreting the numbers. “This is a very powerful step where students would be able to visualize the data so they can better understand and explain the process. It helps build their competencies of communication, collaboration, critical thinking, and creativity,” he said.
Seshaiyer emphasized that project-based learning will be a large part of DSCA. The lab-school’s physical location will be held in Frederick County and run by George Mason in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Education and Frederick County Public Schools. George Mason will offer programming for students, teachers, and parents from all partnering divisions. Courses will take place online through George Mason University, Laurel Ridge Community College, and the Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation (SMSC), beyond the students’ regular coursework within their respective districts.
Seshaiyer brings invaluable leadership to the Lab School as a member of two boards appointed by the state—the Virginia STEM Education Advisory Board and the Virginia Board of Workforce Development—that host important conversations about closing the gaps between the educational enterprise and workforce development. He also currently serves as the Chair of the US National Academies Commission on Mathematics Instruction and has been selected to represent the United States at the General Assembly at the International Congress on Mathematics Education. He also served as the higher ed lead for the implementation of the first ever VA high school Data Science standards, Course and curriculum.
“We need to be thinking about data in the age of artificial intelligence. While there are algorithms that can help clean and analyze data, they also can come with certain biases,” Seshaiyer explained.
“This information fuels innovation, decision making, and the digital landscape,” said George Mason College of Science Interim Dean and SMSC Executive Director, Cody W. Edwards who is also collaborating on the project. “It’s therefore important to have a handle on the reliability of this data. Without reliable data, we cannot acquire meaningful insights.”
In January, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin issued an executive order outlining ways the state will allow the use of AI in government agencies and educational institutions, which includes the creation of an AI taskforce. College of Science’s Seshaiyer and George Mason’s College of Computing and Engineering professor, and IDIA Director, Amarda Shehu, were selected to serve on the taskforce and will be responsible for providing ongoing, biannual recommendations on the order’s standards, educational guidelines, and any pilot programs conducted by Virginia’s executive branch agencies.
“Providing students at the DSCA Lab School options to enhance their data science experience will greatly enhance Virginia’s STEM workforce,” said Edwards.
The DSCA Lab School will officially begin fall 2025 with online offerings starting in FY 2024-25. For more details, please contact pseshaiy@gmu.edu
