Data Literacy--Teach It Early, Teach It Often Data Gurus Tell Conference Goers

Understanding big data and artificial intelligence is not something reserved for computer scientists, said Kirk Borne, principal data scientist for the international consulting firm, Booz Allen Hamilton. Manipulating massive amounts of data that are becoming available will affect every form of intellectual and business pursuit. "Data literacy is a way of thinking, not a thing to think about," Borne told attendees of BDA Edcon, the International Big Data and Analytics Education Conference hosted by University of Maryland University College on June 3 and 4. The conference explored how the convergence of big data analytics, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing can be implemented into teaching and learning experiences today to meet industry demand. The two-day event included the final judging and presentation of awards for the annual Global Analytics Competition. Data literacy is "a way of business, a way of doing whatever we do in the world. It really is for everyone, not just for data scientists," according to Borne.