Learning to Teach About Race and Racism Through Data Visualizations in a Social Studies Methods Course

• In Event: Necessary Exhaustion: Whiteness, Racism, and the Pursuit of Racial Justice in Schools

Abstract

Using critical race theory as the lens, this interpretive case study examined how preservice teachers (PST) learned to teach about race/racism through data visualizations (dataviz) within two social studies methods courses. The researchers found that the contexts had an important influence on how PSTs learn to teach about race/racism and dataviz. Second, across contexts, PSTs generally did not see critical data literacy as an aim of social studies education. Third, teachers may be able to develop a relatively strong sense of how to teach about race/racism or how to teach using dataviz, but it was more difficult to leverage them simultaneously.

Authors

• Christopher C. Martell, University of Massachusetts - Boston

• Tamara L. Shreiner, Grand Valley State University