How Can We Support Data Literacy in Middle Schoolers?
As decisions become increasingly data-driven, the ability to interrogate data is emerging as a key skill for self-advocacy. Unfortunately, marginalized communities most heavy impacted by algorithmic decision making are often those least prepared to question those decisions.
With this issue in mind, my graphic design advanced studio worked with SAS to design data literacy tools for middle schoolers to use outside of the traditional classroom.
Their design prompt:
Design an interactive tool to teach data concepts to middle schoolers.
The tool should:
- Explain data concepts and their relevance to understanding a sample dataset
- Enable users to try out the concepts.
- Allow users to share and communicate their findings in a compelling manner.
Students worked in groups for this 9 week project. Each group worked with one of three data concepts: Distributions, Correlations, or Clusters.
Final Scenario Videos of Student Work
Student designers: Kennedy Liggett, Joseph Rogers, Rachel Thomas
Student designers: Cole Ferguson, Rachael Pollock, Anna Schecterson
Student designers: Abbey Carr, Anya Gunturi, Darron Klett
Student Designers: Britney Balmer, Felix Chang, Katelyn Watkins
Student designers: Chris Bullock, Max Ganch, Lauren Rapier
The Research Process