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Data Science and Artificial Intelligence Data Skills Literacy for Educators

Data Skills and Artificial Intelligence (DS&AI) Data Skills Literacy for Educators

Luisa Cutillo (School of Mathematics and Leeds Institute for Data Analytics (LIDA))

Project overview

The research activities of this project aim to:

  • Identify which programming languages, tools and practices are currently being taught
  • Identify gaps between existing provisions and current state of the art
  • Identify gaps between our offerings and competitor institutions
  • How to adapt and build on the resources shared by the ATI pilot DS&AI Educators' Programme to define training programs for our educators with the aim of offering the most cutting-edge teaching approaches in DS&AI to our students
  • Highlight existing areas of excellence at Leeds
  • Establish current challenges, shortcomings, and excellence in our pedagogical and technical approaches to teaching DS&AI

Key findings

  • Students often perceive DS and AI as highly technical and inaccessible, highlighting the need for approachable teaching methods.
  • Professionals emphasize the importance of foundational data literacy skills over advanced technical expertise.
  • There is a disconnect between current educational offerings and real-world industry needs.
  • Collaborative, hands-on learning experiences are highly effective for teaching DS and AI.
  • Educators need tailored resources and training to integrate DS and AI into their curricula confidently.

 

Implications for practice

  • Educators can adopt foundational, real-world examples to demystify DS and AI concepts for students.
  • Institutions should prioritize professional development for educators in DS and AI.
  • Curriculum development must align more closely with industry requirements.
  • Creating interdisciplinary projects can foster practical applications of DS and AI skills.
  • Policymakers can use these findings to advocate for systemic support in integrating DS and AI into education.

If you want to find out more details about this fellowship or what the next steps were upon completion please read the full snapshot or contact Luisa (L.Cutillo@leeds.ac.uk)

Project start date: September 2022