Data Bytes:a data science programme and showcase for TY students
Year Awarded
2021
Amount
€27,174
- Organisation:National College of Ireland (NCI)
- Audience:Transition Year Students, Post Primary Teachers - Senior Cycle
- Location:Dublin
- Topic:Technology
Project Summary
Data Science is everywhere, from our social media to our healthcare, from the sports-field to politics. It is a rapidly evolving area, yet one that can be difficult to get young people engaged with. Employment opportunities are abundant, yet many young people do not understand what Data Science is and how it relates to what they are studying in school and to the world around them.
Data Bytes is a programme and showcase for Transition Year (TY) students that makes Data Science practical, fun and relatable for young people. The programme aims to bridge the gap in Data Science awareness and understanding between second level education and third level undergraduate studies; to encourage engagement in Data Science studies and careers among second level students of varied abilities and backgrounds; and to generate greater public awareness of Data Science and its potential application to a wider audience beyond schools and higher education institutes.
Using innovative pedagogy and teaching approaches, through a combination of face to face and online delivery and resources, teams of TY students will be guided through the execution of a Data Science project using the Data Handling Cycle. The culmination of the programme is a public showcase of students work at a live event and prize-giving at NCI’s IFSC campus and online via a dedicated showcase website.
Team progress will be monitored and supported throughout the programme and the initiative will be evaluated using online engagement data and the output from interviews, and pre and post participation surveys.