The Pride of Sharing — a Journey with Data and Information Track Students in the Sleep Initiative

When I walked into the classroom for the first time, I knew it was going to be a special year. It was my first time teaching a 10th-grade class in the Information and Data track, and from the very first moment, I realized we were in for a journey full of challenges. We started the year without knowing each other, and the entire process of the Sleep Project was a journey into the unknown for us. The beginning wasn’t easy. Some of the students struggled to understand the importance of the project, and there was a sense of resistance in the air. But deep down, I was certain there was something special here, an opportunity to teach them not only new knowledge but also how to work together, tackle complex questions, and present themselves with pride. For me, the added value lay not only in learning the content but also in developing statistical thinking, which drew on my personal acquaintance with the researchers from my time as a student. One of the significant turning points was the preparation for the final event. I knew that such an event could be a defining moment for them, so I decided to take them to a storytelling workshop. It wasn’t just about a presentation, but about how to convey a message and connect with the audience. After the workshop, the students began working on their presentations on their own. I saw how they took ownership, how this project became theirs. It was no longer the researchers leading the way, but rather they who were leading the way. On the day of the event, the hall was packed with people, leading researchers like Prof. Tauber and Prof. Tamar Shochat, the school principal, and other guests. When the students took the stage, I was proud. They stood there confidently, presented their findings, and showed just how far they had come. At the end of the event, as I thanked everyone, something unexpected happened. The students began to applaud me. I stood there, moved, realizing just how far we had come together. It had been a challenging year, a year in which I learned to let go of control, to let the students discover the answers on their own, and to let the questions guide them, even if that sometimes meant lingering in confusion. Today, as I look back, I know that this project changed not only them, but me as well. This process showed me just how meaningful our shared journey is, a journey that begins with challenges but leads to moments of pride that are irreplaceable.