Adventures in data literacy:

When the gap you were trying to identify turns out to be a chasm.

slides: bit.ly/iassist-gap

So who is Meg

And what about the University of Manitoba?

Context

Methods

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Results: Data Storytelling Project

Themes

"Data visualization, storytelling and effective communication will keep us relevant and help our research have a greater impact. It will also help it have greater uptake to our intended audience. Some universities have entire credited courses on this for grad students. I'm not aware of this at the UofM and think it would be very useful."

- Health Sciences Group

"[…] Words have meaning, stop trying to make yourself sound better with flowery language. Science is NOT THE PLACE FOR STORYTELLERS".

"Data is a very loaded word/concept to which interdisciplinary and humanities scholars have very different relationships than social sciences and scientific scholars have."

- Science & Technology Group

Results: GitHub Pages Assessment

Themes

"I've discovered that I learn a lot better when I have the flexibility to go for walks or multitask with mindless work. I have more time for thinking and therefore for problem solving now that I have more flexibility with my schedule."

- Graduate student

"it is impossible to learn everything the first time. I always have to go back and read them again. The[m] being available is critical for me."

"The subject matter is not necessarily relevant, however the subject often influences the type of data available or being used. This in turn will affect the examples and methods being shown. Therefore, data typical in my field of study will be more useful than an example with data that is not."

- Graduate students

Discussion

Users

Librarian Supports: Resources

Librarian Supports: Programming

But also boundaries!