Crafting University Experiences: Perspectives and Practices in Teaching Introductory Data Science

Oregon Convention Center 

Teaching data science, with its inherently interdisciplinary nature, presents educators with unique challenges in crafting content and instructional approaches. These challenges are further compounded by instructors holding terminal degrees in diverse data science fields, varying teaching experiences, and the diverse backgrounds of students. In this talk, I will share a range of examples from introductory data science instructors representing various North American colleges and universities. Drawing from these examples, we will explore the varied orientations educators adopt in teaching data science and the considerations influencing their content choices. Examining the challenges posed by different classroom sizes and students' diverse majors, our talk explores the nuances of curricular materials, teaching methods and assessment strategies. Emphasis will be placed on tailoring these elements to accommodate variations in student backgrounds, including factors such as prior knowledge, misconceptions and motivations to learn data science. By exploring these dimensions, my goal is to provide a glimpse into the practices of introductory data science courses across different contexts.