The Community for Learning & Innovation (CLI) gives lecturers from Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) the opportunity to apply for a fellowship. With this fellowship, they research educational innovation, or carry out an educational project.
On this page, you can read more about the CLI Fellowship of Samare Huls & Frederick Thielen (ESHPM) concerning the design, teaching, and testing of a new course on the 'data life cycle' to enhance participants' data literacy through interdisciplinary and interactive education.
Data is everywhere, but not everyone possesses the knowledge and skills to handle data. In our current educational programs, various aspects of the so-called 'data life cycle' are taught separately, rather than as a whole.
Developing the course
In line with the EUR Strategy 2024 to ensure future-oriented education, Samare and Frederick explore the development of a new, interactive, interdisciplinary course to teach students and academic professionals how to transform data from different sources into understandable and actionnable knowledge, regardless of the field of research. The course is a master class for master's students, PhD candidates, and academic professionals interested in the entire 'data life cycle'. This life cycle represents a holistic framework for managing and utilising data effectively. Participants learn to apply different infrastructural aspects to each stage of the data life cycle.
The course, hosted online via Quarto Pub, integrated R and Python programming and employed various teaching methods, including videos, micro-lectures, and group projects. It introduced the YODAL-Q (Your Own Data Literacy Questionnaire), a tool designed to assess and enhance data literacy among participants. Despite challenges in catering to a diverse audience, the course adapted materials to accommodate varying levels of expertise, using feedback to inform adjustments and improve engagement.
Impact and future of the project
As the fellowship concludes, it is noted for its innovation, adaptation, and valuable learning experiences in educational innovation and data literacy. Samare & Frederick are optimistic about the lasting impact of their work and the future evolution of the developed data literacy course. Based on participant feedback, they created a new introductory course, "data literacy with R."
This fellowship laid a strong foundation for ongoing enhancements in data literacy education at Erasmus University. To ensure sustainability, three successors will continue the mission, integrating data literacy into the curriculum and developing additional materials. This transition aims to keep the programme relevant and impactful for the academic community in the future.
Do you want to participate in future versions of the course, include the course materials in your curriculum, or collaborate on a strategic level? Please reach out to data-literacy@eshpm.eur.nl and join us in our journey to enhance data literacy at Erasmus University and beyond.
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