Ultimate Guide to Data Science for Kids

Data science is a subset of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics involving the ability of someone to identify data, select data, and analyze data. Teaching data science along with computer science for kids are within the field of STEM. Computational thinking is the ability of a person to break down complex problems into smaller chunks (decomposition), identify the similarities between the problems (pattern recognition), eliminate irrelevant information to focus on the problem at hand (abstraction), and provide guidance on how solve that problem (algorithms). The data science industry has grown in popularity, especially with the innovation in scaling big data. Kids that have a love for math, reasoning, and logic may find that data science might be a field that they can continue pursuing that particular subject.

Previously, the idea of STEM for most people is centered around programming and robotics. People have placed so much attention on coding and robotics that they miss out on other STEM educational paths for data science. At it’s core, data science is the ability of a person to identify data/information, develop strategies to analyze data, explore data, and dissect significant data using programming languages. Children starting in elementary school can learn the cognitive ability of applying the fundamentals of data science. However, kids that are at the very end of middle school and starting junior high would be well-equipped to start learning more in the realm of using data with purpose.

In this article, you will learn all about the basics of teaching data science to kids, as well as the facts, features, and importance of data science for kids as we continue to journey into the data evolution that is currently taking place.

Overview of Data Science for Kids

Data science for kids involves teaching them how to gather and make decisions based on selected data. Selected data in this context can be information, choices, or options. Data science extracts relevant data from a stream of data and employs strategic means to analyze to solve given problems. Allowing them to explore data science means that you are exposing them to fields like data engineering, statistics, pattern recognition, programming, mathematics, and computing among others.

Kids can explore opportunities in the field of data science as business analysts, machine learning engineers, data administrators, marketing analysts, and mathematicians, among others. Data science for kids also goes beyond prepping them for a future in data science; it also involves equipping kids with lifelong problem-solving, AI, and analytical skillsets that they will undoubtedly use in the future. The ability to identify, predict, select, and investigate information, are some of the major skills kids will learn from data science.

The field of data science involves text-based programming, machine learning, and statistics, all of which are not suitable for kindergarten or kids below the age of 12.

Data science for kids requires the ability to read, think, and make decisions to a capacity, hence, the subject is recommended for kids aged 12 years and above. However, that does not mean that kids in elementary school don’t have any capacity to learn about data science. They can certainly learn about it relative to how they can plot graphs and charts, and allow them to teach others what they think it conveys.

Data science for kids covers critical subjects, like constructive data, data identification, data visualization and verification, programming, artificial intelligence, and facts-checking, among others. Contrary to how complex the subject seems, data science is interesting, and while intimidating, is actually quite easy to learn if you allow kids to keep at the learning pace.

How to Explain Data Science to Kids

To explain data science to kids, teachers must employ specific strategies and explain the concept using simple, relative terms for kids. Data science explained for kids is the process of breaking down terms and concepts related to data science, for kids to grasp it easily. Searching for qualitative and quantifiable data is the core of data science, and kids can do just that. Teaching kids the full concept of data science like how you would do it for a college student or adult might result in fear and discouragement in kids.

Breaking Down Data Science Concepts

It's important for instructors and parents to break down data science into morsels of knowledge that kids can learn easily.

Data Identification and Collection

Data identification is simply identifying information relevant to a particular subject. On the other hand, data collection means gathering enough data to serve as the target data for a subject.

Parents and teachers can explain data identification and collection by instructing kids to gather all the puzzles they can find. Ensure the puzzles are filled with a variety of unrelated puzzles (magic game puzzles, objects, picture, letter, and number puzzles). Then, mix up the puzzles together to create a pile.

Another way to do this is to gather a heap of clothes together, including underwear, stockings, hoodies, shirts, etc. You can take it a step further by including patterned and plain clothing.

Data Segregation and Analysis

Data segregation involves the separation of relevant and verifiable data from the total amount you have received.

You can explain data segregation to kids by instructing them to sort out the scattered puzzles accordingly. This task requires patience and careful examination, so ensure you celebrate their progress and encourage them each step of the way. You can task kids to arrange the clothes accordingly. You can ask them to further segregate the clothes based on materials or designs.

This task is demanding that builds persistence, computational thinking, critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills in kids.

Data Patterns

The topic of data patterns means finding similarities and patterns in the data collected. Visualization involves the graphical representation of pictures to analyze data. Pattern recognition births critical thinking, which is a necessary tool in data science.

There are many ways to teach data patterns to kids, one of which includes a visualization method. With a pictorial representation, you can instruct kids to find similarities between pictures, and remove the odd ones out. Just like the popular game, titled $ pics, 1 word, the patterns do not need to have visible recognizable patterns. You can increase the difficulty level by placing unusual pictures together and having your kids discover the patterns.

Data Forecasting

Not all relevant data or patterns are useful at a particular time. This is where data forecasting comes in data forecasting is the ability of a person to identify when to use a particular data. As humans, we know that dusk means rest, and dawn means the start of a new day. The same applies to data science – you can teach kids to know ‘when’ and ‘how’ data should be used.

For data forecasting, you can ask kids what data they think weather anchorperson use to predict the weather. Ask them when they have gotten them wrong. Ask them how data could have skewed incorrect data.

Data Science and Artificial Intelligence for Kids

Artificial intelligence (AI), also known as machine learning, is the process of collecting and analyzing data using computer devices, machines, and other software. AI is a technological innovation that makes the process of retrieving and storing data easier. It is called artificial intelligence because, as opposed to human intelligence, which can be manipulated at any time, AI uses machines and robots, which cannot be influenced.

AI programs reportedly have a higher performance rate than humans. They can translate between languages, transcribe texts, and identify and interpret images and videos, among others. Machine learning for kids explains the concepts of algorithms, decision making, and critical thinking, among others. With machine learning incorporated into AI, machines, robots, and bots can carry out full data analysis and give reports by themselves. They are programmed to make situational decisions, rather than producing the same outputs all the time.

Fundamentals for Kids to Learn Data Science

Contrary to popular opinion, data science explained for kids is fun and easy to learn. Data science covers a wide range of subjects, and the first step to becoming experts in the field is to be deeply rooted in its foundations.

Here are some of the basics needed for kids to learn data science.

Kids must learn about various programming languages, the easiest one would be Python. These are text-based coding languages needed in the field of data science.
Data analysis platforms like Apache Spark and Hadoop help to store and process large data. Kids can learn the basics of these platforms and how they work.
Computational thinking and data science are mutually exclusive terms. Good knowledge of computational thinking serves as the foundation for learning data science.
Kids should also learn the habit of gathering data for specific purposes. Beyond gathering data, kids should know how to gather verifiable, qualitative, and quantitative data. The first step in data analysis is to identify and collect existing data to arrive at a conclusion or solve a problem.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning for kids is another cogent aspect of data science. Machine learning employs AI to collect, segregate, and study data. Kids are expected to understand the basics of machine learning and AI before they dive fully into the study of data science.

Facts for Data Science to Share with Kids

Data science cuts across various scientific fields, including statistics, mathematics, pattern recognition, machine learning, data extraction, visualization, forecasting, etc.
Data science and data analysis are not the only career options for data science. There are many other career opportunities in the field of data science, including mathematicians, business analysts, machine learning engineers, and marketing analysts, among others.
Data science has one of the highest-paying jobs today.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can kids learn data science?

Kids can learn data science because it allows them to understand how the data and numbers tell a story. Kids ages 6 and up can start understanding how to graph and trend data.

Why is data science important for kids to learn?

Data science for kids is a very interesting field for kids to learn. With data science, kids can build their interests and expertise in many other fields, including programming, marketing, engineering, forecasting, lecturing, machine, statistics, etc.

Final Thoughts on Teaching Data Science for Kids

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