Dana Center design principles: technology

eCOTS 2022 Workshop

Nicholas J. Horton and Benjamin S. Baumer

May 19, 2022

Dana Center Data Science Design Principle Framework

• The framework is copyright 2021 The Charles A. Dana Center at The University of Texas at Austin.
• The Dana Center has granted educators a nonexclusive license to reproduce and share copies of this publication to advance this work.

Design Principle: technology

The course introduces students to current technologies appropriate for data exploration and visualization, and prepares them to learn and use new ones.

Student perspectives

• Use technology to visualize data and support data-based conclusions.
• Understand the necessity of digital tools in cleaning and analyzing large data sets, and select appropriate tools for different situations.
• Develop experience in learning new tools, which will allow them to use emerging technology tools for analyzing data in the future
• Explore how technology can enhance data analysis as well as creativity in data visualization.

Student perspectives (cont.)

• Understand that the use of tools or technology does not replace the need for evaluating the reasonableness of conclusions or how the conclusions apply to a given context.

Faculty perspectives

• Introduce students to various data analysis and visualization technology tools that students can use beyond the classroom and support them in understanding the best uses for each tool.
• Facilitate student learning of technology platforms through exploration, as this will aid in transferring the knowledge to future platforms.
• Empower students to be creative and to use technology in support of their own goals

Faculty perspectives (cont.)

• Not be experts in the use of every platform, but are willing to experiment in response to students’ questions and will model good practices for seeking answers to such questions.

How to operationalize?

Lots to talk about here (the subject of a different workshop)!