We love delivering DataBasic training! Originally developed by researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the DataBasic training programme (the Data Culture Project) is designed to help anyone in an organisation, whether or not they have data responsibility and no matter how senior they are, get more confident with data. You can use it self-serve style - pick and choose from the menu of webtools and activities, but we think it’s best enjoyed with a facilitator, working through each course with a cohort of colleagues, over a period of four weeks (or two full days). We see the difference it makes for both beginners and more experienced staff – building confidence and curiosity when working with data.
Until recently, two versions of DataBasic training have been available – MIT’s original website and a bilingual version of that website which we developed with MIT, that contains Welsh-relevant sample datasets.
Then, in October 2022, we were approached by Central South Consortium to help contribute to their Data In Our World project. From this, DataBasic Education was created – a version of the website with child-friendly sample data sets, simpler language and a focus on making the website easily navigable for educators who may want to deliver these workshops. Spending so much time thinking (and getting excited by) the first digitally-native generation of leaners got us thinking about the future – how can we ensure the future of DataBasic?
Thanks to the foresight and generosity of its creators, the coding of the DataBasic website is publicly available, which has allowed us to create a new version of the website over which we have full control. This future-proofs its brilliant resources and webtools and ensures we are solely responsible for all manner of things, from content, to accessibility, to data privacy.
Our recent work on DataBasicCymru
Here are some highlights of our work:
- We believe that the true value of data is when it is accessible to everyone and understood by everyone, so we set about improving the site’s accessibility features in line with our developing accessibility standards. This included ensuring all text was easily readable and that the site was usable for mouse, keyboard and screen reader users in both English and Welsh. We have also added an accessibility statement page to the site.
- In hosting the website ourselves, we take on responsibility for the storage of user data. To bring the site into line with Data Cymru’s own websites, we have added explanations about data privacy throughout the site and a privacy policy page to simply explain how your data is stored and used.
- We have updated some language in the site to make it more beginner-friendly and have translated some remaining US English into British English. For example, we have added explainers where the site had previously assumed readers had some knowledge of .csv files or of data visualisation. We hope this will expand our accessibility even further – making it available for more age-ranges, learning differences and experience levels.
- In past DataBasic courses, you have suggested adding simpler examples to some of our webtools to make them easier to understand for beginners – and we have listened! We’ve updated two webtools with new sample datasets to give clearer or more topical examples. Now that we’re deploying DataBasic ourselves, we have direct control over this content and will be able to quickly respond to user feedback about sample data as well as other aspects of the site. This is important because understanding the subject matter can be a great confidence boost. If you’re familiar with the data or the topic, you’re more likely to start questioning and challenging it.
The future of DataBasicCymru
Why do we think it’s a good offer for local authorities? DataBasicCymru isn’t a how-to guide for a particular dataset or a tutorial in some specific technique; it’s a platform to build your own data culture and to encourage and incite curiosity – after all, the best questions produce the best answers. We know that building data maturity within and across local authorities is a challenge and that’s why DataBasicCymru is a neat solution; principles can be taught and then later applied to individuals’ own experiences. This promotes autonomy and gives people a chance to showcase their expertise in their field.
Data work is often also considered to be something ‘best left to the experts’ – people with the word ‘data’ or ‘analyst’ in their job titles – but we know that everyone uses data and information in their roles and it’s becoming a necessary skill for more and more of us. This false perception can sometimes produce feelings of fear or inadequacy for people who don’t hold those titles. That’s where the fun and creativity in the DataBasic workshops comes in – it’s a tangibly useful reminder that we can all contribute to the production, collection, analysis and use of data in our roles, no matter our level.
As a result of our work this year – and the excellent groundwork laid by the original DataBasic team – we have a new and improved website which will support us in better delivering data training for Welsh councils. We can also now respond to your feedback to further improve the site more proactively. We hope that this moves us closer to our vision of a data-confident Welsh local government.
See the new changes for yourself here and why not try a workshop or – if you’re interested in scheduling some training – speak to Róisín.
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