Welcome to PLIX Data Gems! Create your own rules for tracking data that is meaningful to you.
🥰 Ages 8+ 🕐 1–1.5 Hours 👩👧👦 up to 15 Participants 🍎 1–2 Facilitators 🎨 Craft Materials
What We ❤️ About This Activity
Data Gems dives into playful ways to track personally meaningful data, and introduces entry data skills with a creative hands-on experience.
Imagine
Activities can be adapted in many ways — below are some ideas to help you imagine how your activity might look like.
Remix an idea prompt
Get Inspiration from the PLIX Community
by PLIX Intern Jessica Zheng (MIT Class of 2027), and PLIX Ambassador Jennifer Vinzons, Kapolei, HI
In this co-designed STEAM escape room, multiple PLIX activities are adapted for the local Kapolei, HI, community, with a focus on native birds
by Jennifer Vinzons, HI
Consider tracking summer reading with button pins and beads in this creative remix
by the PLIX Team
Use tangible materials to collect data that’s important to you about your library program!
By Janea Coker, Monett, MO
Check out how Janea introduced data literacy skills to older adults through a Walk with Ease program, and fostered cozy community connections.
by the PLIX Team
What’s meaningful to teens? Check out some teen Data Gems creations from Somerville Public Library, MA
by the PLIX Team
Check out these creations by middle schoolers tracking data that’s meaningful to them! Bonus reflections by the PLIX Team!
by Kary Henry in Deerfield, IL
Track multiple goals: Kary uses this wearable data tracker to remind herself to move every hour, connect meaningfully with others, create a fun paper craft and ignore social media a little bit more!
by PLIX Ambassador Heba Thiele
Doodle a data journal: Heba shared how she keeps different things about her body over a month.
by PLIX Intern Christy Ly
Christy uses this bracelet to remember how their friend Kathleen was feeling last time they talked.
by Ada Ren-Mitchell, PLIX
Read about the work and inspirations behind PLIX Data Gems
Create different ways to track scores with peers, and reduce waste.
Prepare
Gather Materials
For Wearable Data Trackers
For Data Journals
Review and Print Resources
PLIX Zines are a supplementary resource for patrons and librarians to refer to. Use our guide to cut and assemble them on 8.5x11" paper.
Love our zine, but it doesn’t fit your adaptation of the activity? Remix our zine with this Google Slides template!
Collect data in your pocket!
Use this interactive zine as a starting point for creating your own rules for tracking and collecting personally meaningful data.
Facilitate
Tips
This activity is designed to invite learners of all backgrounds into creating their own rules for data that is meaningful to them. The materials used in this activity are intentionally low-cost and friendly to encourage participants to try new things, mess around, make mistakes, and experiment.
🙋🏼♂️ Ask questions that learners can raise their hands for
…and provide different perspectives! For example, ask if rainy days make them sad, and also if rainy days make them feel calm or happy!
🪢 Learn to tie a knot!
Tap into some fine motor skills with showing how to tie a square knot to secure a data bracelet. Most of the time you may have to do it for them, but it’s an opportunity to empower them to do it themselves.
🔐 Connect the idea of cryptography
Have fun with secret data tracking. When a learner creates their own data rules, it can be something only they (and maybe their friends) know about! This is the foundation of cryptography.
into creative learning facilitation with our Self-Guided Mini Course. It’ll also help you get started running your first PLIX workshop.