WIP: Bridging the Data Gap - Introducing Unplugged Data Science

This innovative practice paper outlines a design-based research study to enhance data science literacy in students using an unplugged approach. With the rapid growth of data and its impact on daily life, there's a need for new educational methods to help students understand and use data effectively. Data science involves math, statistics, computation, AI, and machine learning, but teaching these concepts can be challenging without access to computers or the internet, potentially widening educational inequities. Inspired by unplugged computer science education, this study supports data science education in unplugged classrooms. Initial research focused on creating and testing two learning units on data visualization and summarization using innovative activities and reflection prompts. Analyzing students' work from a pilot with ten eleventh-graders in a low-income public school in a Global South country, the study aims to understand how these activities support data visualization skills and identify limitations. Future work will develop and implement lesson plans to promote data and AI literacy, aiming to make data science education more inclusive across diverse backgrounds.