Higher education has also been significantly impacted by the pandemic, as have almost all other facets of human existence. Online and hybrid learning are guiding education’s next chapter. Data will drive more personalized experiences and build a more direct path to student achievement and favorable outcomes for learners. The data literacy framework is being widely integrated into many higher education institutions to get useful insights in guiding students to navigate the right career path and explore their potential. This article at PBS NewsHour discusses how education has globally shifted to higher education institutions that are helping bridge the skill gap with a data literacy framework.
Data Literacy Is Crucial
It is no secret that data permeates every area of your daily life, whether at work or home. Global conversations about everything from elections to the definition of privacy to the nature of labor have data at their center. In the past, universities gathered information about students’ graduation rates, demographics, financial assistance, and other factors mostly because doing so was necessary to run the institution and comply with government reporting requirements. The use of data to make informed decisions is still a relatively recent development for many in higher education. Therefore, implementing a data literacy framework may seem like reinventing the wheel for many institutions.
Expert Views on Implementing a Data Literacy Framework
Amelia Parnell, VP of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, says colleges risk ‘widespread missteps’ and discrimination if they place too much emphasis on personalized data. For instance, ZIP codes, GPA, test scores, and engagement metrics like attendance at recruitment events.
Nic Richmond, the chief strategist and vice chancellor at Pima Community College claims that it is a problem when faculty members fail to use data for insights because of their inexperience or lack of knowledge. Richmond advises professors to make clear that the objective of data collection is to serve students better, not to screen out and punish a professor whose pupils are performing poorly.
The author further elaborates on various elements of the data literacy framework, including data usage, faculty training, institutional action, sustainable actions, and communicating with students.
To read the original article, click on https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/how-higher-ed-is-trying-to-improve-student-performance-with-data
