NCSSM-Morganton hosts third annual Data Science Summer Institute

It’s all about the data.

NCSSM-Morganton has gathered teachers from across the country this week for a workshop aimed at incorporating data science into classrooms. 

With nearly 70 educators in attendance, the week-long summer workshop's mission is to catalyze the adoption of data science and data literacy as an integrated component of K-12 education by 2030.

 Instructor of the Zarek Drozda compared knowledge and data science to wealth in ‘The State of Data Science’ session.

“Wealth in the 19th and 20th centuries was in the form of physical products,” Drozda said. “And in the 21st century, knowledge is the new wealth. Data science is the new oil.” According to Drozda, 17 states have added some sort of data science education course to their K-12 offerings.

Taylor Gibson, Dean of Data Science and Interdisciplinary Initiatives, is in his third year hosting NCSSM-Morganton’s 2024 Data Science Summer Institute.

“Data science is more than just math and code. Everything you do involves data. You’re analyzing data whether you call it data science or not. How do you make decisions using a rational approach? Gibson questioned. “Logical thinking driven by data is going to yield better results for you.”

Teachers from California, Colorado, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and beyond have come to Morganton to learn data science and bring that knowledge back to their schools.

Chris Bolognese, a teacher at Columbus Academy in Ohio, attended last year’s workshop and is back after advocating for a data science course at his school.

“I’m now offering a data science course for the first time at my school, so I wanted to really understand the concepts,” Bolognese said. “I attended here last summer as well. It’s a great blend of what those in the industry say the kids need, together with practical curriculum ideas of what this could look like in an actual school,” he continued. Bolognese’s first data science course will run this upcoming school year.

NCSSM-Morganton’s summer workshop highlights the school’s commitment to educators and developing staff to stay current with advancements in data science.

“I’ve been in states where they change curriculums and provide no support to teachers and I know how important data science is to teach in schools,” Gibson said. “I wanted North Carolina and our school to be a leader in that, and as a result, we’ve got to support teachers.”

Registration for next year’s workshop will be open in February on the school’s social media platforms: @ncssm_morganton.