Data collection as a catalyst for data literacy: A concept for building Smart City gadgets at school

Witte, V.; Schwering, A.; Frischemeier, D.

Abstract

In a data-driven world, fostering data literacy among students is essential - yet the sub-skill of data collection remains underrepresented in educational practice. This study explores how personal data collection using environmental sensors within a ‘Smart City’ project influences students’ ability to critically evaluate corrupted datasets. In a quasi-experimental design, 79 high school students participated in an intervention, during which they developed sensor-based Smart City projects and collected their own data. A pre- and posttest measured their ability to identify outliers in a corrupted dataset. The results indicate an improvement in the experimental group compared to a control group that worked with externally sourced data. Findings suggest that engaging with personally collected data enhances students’ understanding of data quality and supports the development of critical data reasoning skills. The study underscores the educational value of authentic data practices and calls for further research into their long-term curricular integration.

Projects the publication originates from