What is the distribution of data literacy secondary school pathways and higher education certificate and degree programs by NC county and tier?

Department or Agency: NC Department of Commerce

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Topics
Data LiteracyScience, Technology, Innovation

Project Overview

Summary

The Data Economy Committee of the North Carolina Board of Science, Technology and Innovation (BSTI) seeks to understand the distribution of data literacy pathways in Career and Technical Education (CTE) among high schools in North Carolina, as well as data-focused certificates and degree programs across community colleges, four-year colleges and universities in North Carolina. BSTI’s goal is to facilitate preparation of students in North Carolina to contribute to and thrive in the Data Economy.

The Data Economy is defined as a business ecosystem predicated on the digital transformation of operations, products, and services. Data literacy is defined as competencies associated with data collection, comprehension, analysis and interpretation. Economic Modeling Specialists International (EMSI) modeling has identified data-focused certificates and degrees at institutions of higher education, and these data need to be used as inputs for a visualization tool to display as data literacy assets in the state by region and county.

The data-focused secondary school CTE pathways are not discoverable through EMSI modeling. However, the Data Economy Committee has identified CTE pathways that are available to high schools and is completing a spreadsheet with North Carolina high schools and the number of pathways offered at each high school. These data also need to be used as design inputs for a visualization tool to display data literacy assets in counties. The purpose of the tool is to understand the distribution of data literacy assets in secondary and higher education institutions across North Carolina.

The NC Department of Commerce/North Carolina Board of Science, Technology, and Innovation (BSTI) and the NC Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) hosted a research partnership meeting on March 31, 2022, to discuss this project. Click here for the meeting recording and BSTI's presentation.

Project last updated 8/25/23.

Deliverables

Planned use of results

The final tool is slated to be posted for public use and viewing by prospective entrepreneurs and corporations, as well as community and educational agencies needing to conduct research to facilitate equitable distribution of resources to prepare students for careers in the data economy.

Funding

OSP, agency partners, and research partners work together to determine if a project has costs, what funding may be available, and possibilities for pursuing funding, if needed.

Data

OSP and the Data Economy Committee plan to work with researchers to determine the best way to share CTE pathway data for the visualization tool.

The project is complete.

We’re eager to learn how you use the results and welcome any questions.

Project point of contact

John Hardin

Executive Director of the Office of Science, Technology & Innovation

NC Department of Commerce

jhardin@commerce.nc.gov

Project Team

Board of Science, Technology & Innovation

NC A&T State University

Western Carolina University

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