Forming part of the Teachers4DataAnalytics program, global analytics leader, SAS held workshops at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) and the Vanderbijlpark Campus of the North-West University (NWU) in mid-October to provide those teachers in attendance with the knowledge and tools to inspire their students to pursue careers in data analytics.
“Teachers4DataAnalytics was launched at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in late August. I conceptualised it and thought carefully about what we could do in a matter of about five to six hours. This is where the SAS DataFly resource that offers a fun and engaging way to explore data in real-time is perfect. We show teachers how to capture information in an easy way and then represent it in the form of a graph or other visual presentation,” said Professor Delia North, former Dean and Head of the School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science, for the College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
These workshops saw teachers being taught at UWC and NWU how to transfer this knowledge to students on multiple levels. The teachers were taught what the differences are between mathematical and statistical thinking. The workshops also had theoretical and practical components to show the teachers how to apply what they learnt through SAS DataFly.
“The digital revolution is driven by data. This data can bring huge value if it is used ethically and in proper context. Through Teachers4DataAnalytics, the value is unlocked when statistical methods and technology is applied by learners to gain insight and make recommendations to explore and create solutions for pressing global issues,” said André Zitzke, Manager: Global Academic Programmes in Africa for SAS.
Data is everywhere and is the driving force behind much of today’s innovation. But rarely do school learners have the opportunity to work with data in authentic, meaningful experiences beyond the math classroom. Thus, many learners are not achieving data literacy. This is something that Teachers4DataAnalytics seeks to overcome by empowering teachers with the skills they need to nurture passion for data in their students.
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