Data Detectives: Critical Thinking in Our Data-Driven World

What is data? Where does it come from? How do we use data? In this First Year Seminar, students will develop critical thinking skills: critical thinking with data – how to use, analyze and interpret data to answer questions and make decisions, and critical thinking about data – how to question, contextualize and evaluate data. Students will examine the history of data science, practice the art of effective data communication, explore the ways in which data is shaped by the analyst and society, and identify data science applications across a range of disciplines. Students will engage in hands-on activities such as exploring existing datasets and creating their own, while developing skills in data literacy, ethical analysis, and data visualization. Open to students of all disciplines, no prior experience is required!