Beyond Statistical Literacy: Open Data For Teaching, Collaboration, And Profit

Abstract

Researchers, governments, and businesses grapple with the abundance of relevant data because consultants claim its effective use will lead to untold wealth and prosperity. To access this pot of gold, a modern university graduate must be data literate: able to critically collect, manage, evaluate, and make use of data. Our study of best practices on data literacy education defined core competencies, some of which overlap heavily with statistical literacy, and how to teach them effectively. We’ve found that open data is a challenging but useful mechanism to allow students to find data they find engaging and motivating. This talk will review these data literacy projects and the core skills needed to work with open data effectively, describe how improved availability of data contributes to collaboration and networking, and complain that contrary to what the consultants tell us, we struggle to articulate and measure the economic value of open data.