Foundational Competencies for Data and Computing: What K-12 Students Need to Know and How to Get There

Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center 

The rapidly changing landscape of computing, information, and communications technologies have catapulted us into the computing revolution and the era of data science and artificial intelligence (AI). Currently, multiple, disconnected efforts in K-12 are attempting to address these new demands, which have profound implications for the workforce and higher education. A recent National Academies consensus study identified a set of competencies students need to navigate and succeed in the changing computational landscapes that influence life, education, and work. The competencies provide a starting point for understanding fields such as data science, computer science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence. This talk will describe the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the report, including a review of the K-12 data and computing landscape, an outline of the key foundational competencies in these areas, and discussion of implications for the future of K-12, the workforce, and higher education.

data science education

K-12 education

computing

artificial intelligence

statistics education

curriculum