Stemiverse 0047 – Dr. Linda McIver on the importance of Data Science in education 

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In this episode, Dr. Peter Dalmaris talks with Dr. Linda McIver.

Dr. Linda McIver started out as an Academic with a Ph.D. in Computer Science Education. When it became apparent that High School teaching was a lot more fun, Linda began a highly successful career at John Monash Science School, where she built innovative courses in Computational and Data Science for year 10 and year 11 students.

Nominated one of the inaugural Superstars of STEM in 2017, Linda is passionate about creating authentic project experiences to motivate all students to become technologically and data literate.

While Linda loves the classroom, it was rapidly becoming clear that teachers in the Australian School system were keen to embrace Data Science, but that there was a serious lack of resources to support that. That’s why Linda created ADSEI – to support Data Science in education.

This is Stemiverse Podcast episode 47.

Stemiverse podcast is brought to you by Tech Explorations, a leading provider of educational resources for Makers, STEM students, and teachers. Go to techexplorations.com to see a complete list of our books and courses covering the Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and electronics.

Show Notes

• [spp-timestamp time=”00:00″] Introduction – Introducing Dr. Linda McIver
• [spp-timestamp time=”01:52″] Welcome
• [spp-timestamp time=”02:39″] Dr. Linda McIver, Superstar of STEM, 2017
• [spp-timestamp time=”02:49″] Linda describes herself on her website’s About Me page as “a professional outlier”
• [spp-timestamp time=”04:29″] Linda’s childhood experiences as an outlier and her growth as a professional
• [spp-timestamp time=”08:39″] Linda’s early experience with computer technology influenced her career by providing her with the self-assurance to succeed
• [spp-timestamp time=”09:20″] “The fear factor, I think, is the biggest thing that pushes people out of computing”
• [spp-timestamp time=”09:40″] When and how it occurred to Linda to become a teacher: Linda’s journey from being an Academic to becoming a High School teacher at John Monash Science School
• [spp-timestamp time=”11:32″] Developing courses in Computational and Data Science for year 10 and 11 students
• [spp-timestamp time=”11:49″] Linda is “always interested in opportunities to promote social justice”
• [spp-timestamp time=”12:12″] How your “choice” not to immunise could kill
• [spp-timestamp time=”13:20″] Social Justice according to Linda
• [spp-timestamp time=”15:04″] Opportunities to promote Social Justice: Linda combined her two passions, Data Science and Social Justice into creating The Australian Data Science Education Institute, a registered charity/non-profit organization
• [spp-timestamp time=”16:18″] About the Australian Data Science Education Institute – Promoting Data and Scientific Literacy
• [spp-timestamp time=”20:20″] The importance of distinguishing and also presenting valid data
• [spp-timestamp time=”21:23″] What is Data Science?
• [spp-timestamp time=”22:19″] The MRI example and an fMRI cautionary tale regarding data
• [spp-timestamp time=”26:51″] Examples where Data Science application is changing our everyday lives
• [spp-timestamp time=”32:53″] Knowledge set and skills required to be a Data Scientist – How transferable are those skills? – Critical thinking
• [spp-timestamp time=”34:49″] Professor Geoff Webb‘s example
• [spp-timestamp time=”37:49″] Stemiverse Episode 0033 – Tim Mendham
• [spp-timestamp time=”38:10″] The difference between Computer Science and Data Science
• [spp-timestamp time=”39:56″] The difference between a Data Scientist and a Data Science Educator
• [spp-timestamp time=”40:42″] What being a Superstar of STEM means to Linda, and what it entails
• [spp-timestamp time=”44:07″] Authentic Project Experience
• [spp-timestamp time=”44:36″] The ROI from teaching Data Science and Critical Thinking
• [spp-timestamp time=”45:46″] The Israeli Parole Board Study
• [spp-timestamp time=”47:27″] The ‘Data Science for High Schools’ Workshop
  • [spp-timestamp time=”50:28″] How the Workshop is delivered
  • [spp-timestamp time=”51:52″] Find out more about the Workshop (Contact – Data Science Education Newsletter)
• [spp-timestamp time=”52:23″] Rapid Fire Questions
• [spp-timestamp time=”52:26″] Linda’s Favorite Programming Language: Python
• [spp-timestamp time=”53:45″] Linda’s Book Recommendations:
  • Weapons of Math Destruction: How Big Data Increases Inequality and Threatens Democracy by Cathy O’Neil
  • Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions by Dan Ariely
  • Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
• [spp-timestamp time=”54:52″] Productivity and efficiency tips by Linda: “Be different”
• [spp-timestamp time=”57:08″] Advice to Educators just starting out: “Try new things”
• [spp-timestamp time=”58:21″] Linda’s Contact Information: Twitter, Email
• [spp-timestamp time=”58:51″] Data mining and social manipulation