Debunked: Data Literacy For Adults Evaluation Report
Citation:
Mairéad Hurley, Debunked: Data Literacy For Adults Evaluation Report, ADAPT, the SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, January 2023Download Item:
Abstract:
ADAPT is a world-leading Science Foundation Ireland Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital
Content Technology. ADAPT has a dedicated team for Education and Public Engagement
(EPE), which aims to inspire the Irish public to learn about emerging technologies that
enhance engagement in our digital world and to have a voice on the future of this vital area
of research.
Data is at the heart of ADAPT’s activities, and data literacy is paramount for citizens to
critically engage with emerging technologies. The increasing pervasiveness of digital content
and technology in our everyday lives means that young people and adults need to have the
skills to think critically about data and make informed decisions, simply in order to thrive in
our always-connected world.
In 2021 - 2022, ADAPT devised and delivered a series of one-off workshops for adults to
promote awareness of the importance of the topic and an opportunity to improve their data
literacy skills in an interactive, social space. Originally titled DALIDA, the series was launched
publicly with the more memorable name ‘Debunked’.
Data literacy is a broad term, encompassing media and social media literacy, as well as
numerical literacy. Due to COVID-19 restrictions in 2021, Debunked ran as an online
workshop series, rather than the in-person programme initially conceived. It was led by
ADAPT researcher Dr Christophe Debruyne (who moved to University of Liége during the
project) and the ADAPT EPE Team led by Laura Grehan and Project Manager Anne Kearns,
with facilitation support from 23 other ADAPT researchers. Debunked also involved
collaborators from Trinity College Dublin including Dr Ciarán O’Neill (Ussher Associate
Professor in Nineteenth-Century History and former TCD Community Liaison Officer) and Ms.
Mary Colclough (Community & Enterprise Engagement Manager). The primary aim of
Debunkedwas to help people navigate misinformation, disinformation and malinformation
online by improving their data literacy skills through these workshops.
This report presents a formative evaluation of the inaugural Debunked series. Data was
collected through a pre- and post-survey of workshop attendees, as well as semi-structured
interviews with participants, programme team and collaborators.
The results indicate that despite operational challenges encountered due to the move online
as a result of Covid-19 public health restrictions, the ADAPT team were able to capitalise on
strong workshop content developed in consultation with the public. Workshops made
excellent use of narrative and storytelling that covered Irish history and memes, as well as
print and online media, graphs and statistics. The resulting responses from participants
covered a range of emotions, highlighting the strongly affective nature of practical and
personal reflection on data literacy
Sponsor
Grant Number
Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)
13/RC/2106_P2
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/hurleym3Description:
PUBLISHED
Author: Hurley, Mairéad
Publisher:
ADAPT, the SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content TechnologyType of material:
ReportCollections
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Education, Data LiteracyMetadata
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