4.8
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34 ratings

Morten Misfeldt +8 more instructors

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Offered By

University of Copenhagen

University of Warsaw

University of Milan

Sorbonne University

Charles University

4EU+ Alliance

Data Literacy – What is it and why does it matter?

University of Copenhagen

About this Course

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You might already know that data is not neutral. Our values and assumptions are influenced by the data surrounding us - the data we create, the data we collect, and the data we share with each other. Economic needs, social structures, or algorithmic biases can have profound consequences for the way we collect and use data. Most often, the result is an increase of inequity in the world. Data also changes the way we interact. It shapes our thoughts, our feelings, our preferences and actions. It determines what we have access to, and what not. It enables global dissemination of best practices and life improving technologies, as well as the spread of mistrust and radicalization. This is why data literacy matters. 
A key principle of data literacy is to have a heightened awareness of the risks and opportunities of data-driven technologies and to stay up-to-date with their consequences. In this course, we view data literacy from three perspectives: Data in personal life, data in society, and data in knowledge production.  The aim is threefold: 1. To expand your skills and abilities to identify, understand, and interpret the many roles of digital technologies in daily life. 2. To enable you to discern when data-driven technologies add value to people’s lives, and when they exploit human vulnerabilities or deplete the commons.  3. To cultivate a deeper understanding of how data-driven technologies are shaping knowledge production and how they may be realigned with real human needs and values. 

The course is funded by Erasmus+ and developed by the 4EU+ University Alliance including  Charles University (Univerzita Karlova), Sorbonne Unviersity (Sorbonne Université), University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), University of Milan (Università degli studi di Milano), and University of Warsaw (Uniwersytet Warszawski).

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Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

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Beginner Level

Interested in data literacy and its role in data-driven societies. No specific prerequisites are required.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

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Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Interested in data literacy and its role in data-driven societies. No specific prerequisites are required.

Approx. 11 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.46/5 (16 Ratings)

Offered by

Established in 1816, the University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland and a highly recognized research centre in the country. Its academic community comprises 7,600 employees, more than 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students and over 2,400 doctoral candidates. Besides 24 faculties, UW has also 30 academic and research centres. A wide range of studies in humanities, social, exact as well as natural sciences, including 24 programmes with English as a language of instruction, is provided by UW.

University of Milan

Established in 1924, the University of Milan (UNIMI) is a public teaching and research-intensive university marked by a wide variety of disciplinary fields. With over 60.000 students enrolled in 124 Bachelor and Master degree programmes, 9 Single-cycle programmes and 33 Doctoral Schools, it is the largest university in Lombardia, one of the most dynamic and internationally-oriented EU regions. The university is also a leading institution in Italy and Europe for scientific productivity.

Sorbonne University

Sorbonne University is a multidisciplinary, research-intensive, world-class university. Located in the heart of Paris, with a regional presence, it is committed to the success of its students and to meeting the scientific challenges of the 21st century. In 2020, the University had 52,000 students and 800 PhD graduates. With 53 bachelors, 196 Master and 19 bi-disciplinary study programmes Sorbonne University covers a comprehensive range of subjects in the field of arts, humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering and medicine.

Charles University

Charles University was founded in 1348, which makes it the oldest university in the Czech Republic one of the oldest universities in Europe. Nearly 50,000 students and doctoral candidates are currently enrolled in a total of 300 degree programmes. The University comprises a total of seventeen faculties, of which five are medical, three are theological, six are faculties of the humanities and social sciences, and three are dedicated to the sciences. The main seat of the University is in Prague, with other campuses in Pilsen and in Hradec Kralove.

4EU+ Alliance

4EU+ Alliance brings together six large, comprehensive, public European research universities with the aim to create a new, shared quality of cooperation in teaching, education, research and administration. The cooperation is based on a common understanding of the European university idea, building on academic freedom and autonomy and ensuring fair participation in education. 4EU+ develops a common challenge-based framework for education by designing flexible learning pathways and ensuring university graduates gain competencies combining critical thinking, data literacy, multilingualism, entrepreneurship and a strong societal engagement.

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Your Life as Data

If you use Google and have a look at your Google Dashboard you will probably be amazed by how much data this company has collected about your online activities. Now think about all the other internet services, social media sites, and databases that may have a file on you, your health, your actions and inclinations. In this module, we will explore user tracking and information harvesting, define personal data and discuss the limits in managing your personal data disclosure. Consequently, we will present the legal framework for data protection and processing.

3 hours to complete

4 videos (Total 40 min), 9 readings, 3 quizzes

4 videos

1.1 Introduction to the Course4m1.2 Revealing the Infrastructure of Digital Advertising8m1.3 Personal Data & the Problems of Empowerment14m1.4 Legal Aspects, Security and Privacy12m

9 readings

Internet Service Providers Are Collecting -and Sharing- Vast Amounts of Information About Customers5mA Look at What ISPs Know About You7m1.1 Further Reading and ResourcesDigital AdTech: The Complete Guide8mWeb Tracking's Opaque Business Model of Selling Users20mEmpowering Resignation: There's an App for That25mEducation on Cyber Security Issues Under EU Law5mMeasuring the GDPR's Impact on Web Privacy20m1.4 Further Reading and Resources

3 practice exercises

1.2 Quiz9m1.3 Quiz12m1.4 Quiz9m

Week2

Week 2

3 hours to complete

Networked Data, Truth and Democracy

3 hours to complete

3 videos (Total 45 min), 6 readings, 2 quizzes

Week3

Week 3

5 hours to complete

Data-driven Knowledge Production

Big data and novel computational methods have revolutionized the way we create knowledge. We will show by example how this knowledge is used and what it implies for the future of humanity. We look at AI-research, computational social science, machine learning and education, and through these examples, we will try to cultivate a deeper understanding of how data-driven technologies are shaping the social fabric, how they augment human capabilities, and may improve our stewardship of spaceship earth.

5 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 87 min), 12 readings, 4 quizzes

6 videos

3.1a Can Algorithms Become Humane? (Part 1)16m3.1b Can Algorithms Become Humane? (Part 2)16m3.2 Algorithms Improving Infrastructures15m3.3 Machine Learning for Achieving SDGs: An Ecosystem Monitoring Case 10m3.4 Computational Social Science15m3.5 Computer Science for All, and as an Educational Endeavor11m

12 readings

How AI can be used as a source for good7m15 Challenges for AI: or what AI (currently) can't do16m3.1 Further Reading and ResourcesAlgorithmic Game Theory: Introduction and Examples20m3.2 Further Reading and ResourcesUnderstanding Machine Learning20m3.3 Further Reading and ResourcesComputational Social Science6mManifesto of Computational Social Science25mSeymour Papert- Father of Educational Computing6mDeveloping Computational Thinking in Compulsory Education- Implications for policy and practice8mRelations between mathematics and programming in school: juxtaposing three different cases11m

4 practice exercises

3.2 Quiz12m3.3 Quiz18m3.4 Quiz9m3.5 Quiz12m

Reviews

4.8

8 reviews

5 stars
77.77%
4 stars
22.22%

TOP REVIEWS FROM DATA LITERACY – WHAT IS IT AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?

by FPJul 6, 2022

The couse help sin identifying real data and managing it

by SRNov 24, 2022

This course is really a awareness course regarding how to take care of personal Data as well as professional data.

View all reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:
The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.
The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Data Literacy – What is it and why does it matter?

Data Literacy – What is it and why does it matter?

About this Course

Instructors

Morten Misfeldt

Joanna Osiejewicz

Christian Igel

Floriana Gargiulo

Rasmus Helles

Irina Shklovski

Martin Loebl

Robin Engelhardt

Sergio Splendore

Offered by

University of Copenhagen