Data Education in Schools

Data literacy is the set of skills that people need in order to ask questions, collect, analyse, interpret and communicate about data. It is important because as it gets easier for computers to collect large amounts of data, it is increasingly used to make decisions in our everyday lives.

From fitness devices and smart meters to YouTube recommendations, our personal data is used by computers and technology companies all the time. Every time we see news articles which report data and charts, we have to decide whether it is likely to be fact or ‘fake news’. We need to know how computers use data, as well as how to use data to help humans make better decisions.

Early years

Becoming data literate starts at the earliest stages of education. Our youngest children develop skills in data handling, finding patterns and collecting information. As they progress through school, children are introduced to simple charts and surveys as well as beginning to be able apply critical thinking to data they find such as a new story. Senior pupils go on to use software to learn how to analyse data and draw conclusions.

The aim of the Data Education in Schools programme is to increase these data skills in the children and young people in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region (ESESCR) and improve pathways to employment.

The Data Education in Schools project creates learning materials about data for primary and secondary school children. We also offer professional learning to teachers in South East Scotland, and work with partner schools and data science experts on innovative new projects.

For more information:

Visit: dataschools.education

Contact: dataschools@ed.ac.uk