Thread by @GavinFreeguard

Delighted to be doing some work for @ODIHQ on how govt thinks about 'data literacy'

What does ODI mean by ‘data literacy’? theodi.org/article/data-l…

#DataLiteracy

In short, it’s ‘the ability to think critically about data in different contexts and examine the impact of different approaches when collecting, using and sharing data and information’, rather than the technical skills required in working with data

I’ve been looking at what various government documents say about data literacy (& those more technical data skills).

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Obvs we have the National Data Strategy, gov.uk/government/pub…

It mentions data literacy, eg ‘While we do not all need to become data scientists, everyone needs some level of data literacy in order to operate successfully in increasingly data-rich environments’, and…

‘Basic data literacy requires some knowledge of data uses, some ability to assess the quality of data and its application, and the skills to conduct basic analysis’, but tends to elide with data skills (on which it notes that ‘there is no widely agreed definition of data skills’)

Then we have the govt response to the NDS consultation, gov.uk/government/con…

This mentions some work with ODI on data literacy across the economy.

I’m struck that a lot of ‘data literacy’ mentions on GOV.UK have an economic/workforce (not eg citizen) focus

40% of responses to the NDS ‘identified capability, culture and leadership as a key government priority, repeatedly calling on the government to recognise the importance of nurturing a culture of data literacy’

It also mentions various initiatives underway to ‘develop and improve data training opportunities for civil servants’, including the GDS Academy, ONS Data Science Campus, Data Science Accelerator and 10DS masterclasses for senior leaders (more on that: instituteforgovernment.org.uk/events/data-bi…)

Quantifying the Data Skills Gap (gov.uk/government/pub…) quotes the NDS on everyone needing some level of data literacy, puts it 6 in top 10 things companies need to improve, has a few mentions/definitions, but still v skills heavy

I like what the AI Roadmap, gov.uk/government/pub…, says. Takes a holistic approach: it has ‘Commit to achieving data and AI literacy for everyone’ as a recommendation alongside ‘high-level AI skill building’ and making diversity/inclusion a priority

‘The public needs to understand the risks & rewards of AI so they can be confident & informed users’. Sees the public as consumers *and* citizens, & well-informed public debate as critical underpinning of regulation. Has concrete recs (online academy, where in curriculum, etc)

This doesn’t come through as strongly in the National AI Strategy, gov.uk/government/pub…

Some depts are thinking about data literacy.

Home Office’s DDaT strategy, gov.uk/government/pub…, talks about improving it – helping people understand what data there is, legal obligations, how to find/collect/share/secure it & give them confidence

The Data Strategy for Defence, gov.uk/government/pub…, has lots on data literacy.

It wants mandatory data literacy training (‘all personnel being data-literate and data-aware’) & it to be a ‘core skill’, ‘as fundamental as weapon handling’

The Wade-Gery review, ‘Putting data, digital and tech at the heart of transforming the NHS’, gov.uk/government/pub…, talks about building basic & broad data literacy, through training (formal & on-the-job), peer support, mentoring

There’s crossover with other types of ‘literacy’ – e.g. the Online Media Literacy Strategy, gov.uk/government/pub…, has users understanding how their personal data is used online as its first principle

Initial thoughts on what I’ve found:
- Data literacy & more technical data skills often conflated
- No consistent definition/framework, esp for literacy
- Fragmented across different places
- Emphasis on workforce/econ angle

What do you think/what have I missed?

I keep coming across the Data Masterclasses for senior leaders - started at No 10, now run by @DataSciCampus

@KuhtJames talked about it at #IFGDataBites last Feb bit.ly/IFGDataBites16

Just been pointed to this 1 year on piece datasciencecampus.ons.gov.uk/one-year-of-th…

https://twitter.com/GavinFreeguard/status/1499428186865684480