What is Data Science?

Summary

Materials

• Day 2 PowerPoint deck
• Data Research Project
• Data Research Project in Word
• Data Science Process Checklist
• Data Science Process Checklist in Word
• Data Research Brainstorm
• Data Research Brainstorm in Word
• Research Prompt Ideas
• Research Prompt Ideas in Word
• What is Data Science? | Great Learning

Instructional Activities and Classroom Assessments

1. Share GED VIZ "Stories" (10 minutes)
2. What is Data Science? (15 minutes)
3. Introduction to Data Research Project (20 minutes)
4. Homework

Learning Objectives

• DAT-2.A Describe what information can be extracted from data.
• DAT-2.C
• DAT-2.D
• DAT-2.E

Essential Knowledge

• DAT-2.A.1 Information is the collection of facts and patterns extracted from data.
• DAT-2.A.2 Data provide opportunities for identifying trends, make connections, and addressing problems.
• DAT-2-A.3 Digitally processed data may show correlation between variables. A correlation found in data does not necessarily indicate that a causal relationship exists. Additional research is needed to understand the exact nature of the relationship.
• DAT-2.A.4 Often, a single source does not contain the data needed to draw a conclusion. It may be necessary to combine data from a variety of sources to formulate a conclusion.
• DAT-2.C.1
• DAT-2.C.2
• DAT-2.C.3
• DAT-2.C.4
• DAT-2.C.5
• DAT-2.C.6
• DAT-2.C.7
• DAT-2.C.8
• DAT-2.D.1
• DAT-2.D.2
• DAT-2.D.3
• DAT-2.D.4
• DAT-2.D.5
• DAT-2.D.6
• DAT-2.E.1
• DAT-2.E.2
• DAT-2.E.3
• DAT-2.E.4
• DAT-2.E.5

Details

0. Before class

• Suggestion: Add specific days that students will complete each step of the project on the Data Research Project page.

1. Share GED VIZ "Stories" (10 minutes)

• Ask students to share their stories.
• You can display their GED VIZ slides by selecting the link from their OneNote page.
• Discuss the following with students:
• Describe your process creating your GED VIZ stories:
• How did you interact with the program?
• Did you repeat the process, trying new scenarios?
• How do you think GED-VIZ benefitted data-driven journalism?
• What do you think they did to create the tool?
• Steps they took to gather the data?
• Once they had the data?
• Could it go beyond 2014? If so, how?

2. What is Data Science (15 minutes)

• Play the video: "What is Data Science?"
• Discuss the Data Science Process:
  • Planning
  • Data collection
  • Data cleansing
  • Data visualization
  • Action/Recommendations

3. Introduction to Data Research project (20 minutes)

• Discuss the data research project that students will complete.
• Students will:
  • Think about concepts you are curious about; things you want to know more about/understand better.
  • Identify topics that you could find the answer to by surveying others.
  • Select one of those topics to create a survey and collect data on the topic.
  • Analyze the data.
  • Create a visual representation of the data.
• Give students the Data Science Process Checklist and the Data Research Brainstorm pages to guide their work.
• Ask students to brainstorm ideas for questions they want to answer with a research project.
• Send students to the Research Prompt Ideas page for ideas (or a choice).
• Everyone must have a different topic.

4. Homework

• Brainstorm ideas of what topics you want to research by collecting data from other people with a survey.
• Have at least three topics you are interested in researching.