Data literacy training

Introduction

Data literacy is the ability to read, understand, work with, analyze, and argue with data. It is also the ability to derive meaningful information from data. Data literacy is not simply the ability to read the text since it requires quantitative and analytical skills (for example: mathematical and statistical) involving reading and understanding data. Hence, with increased data literacy, one will be able to produce more insightful and evidence-based stories. 

As an open data organization, Open Development Vietnam (ODV) believes that by presenting information and stories with visualizations and simplified language, journalists, researchers, and policymakers can more effectively communicate with the public. 

Open Development Vietnam is delighted to announce a series of Training on Data Literacy that consists of THREE training sessions in cooperation with Pan Nature. Each session is a 5-day workshop that will progressively equip participants with skills and knowledge on data literacy and data-driven storytelling. Participants are expected to apply knowledge gained during the workshops into their respective projects in the weeks that follow the program. The training curriculum is localized from the World Bank’s Data Literacy Program. This training is provided by the project ‘Voice for Mekong forests (V4MF)’ that has been supported by the European Union.

The training content

Participants will have opportunities to practice thoroughly the skills provided and be guided throughout the process and able to develop a project idea based on forest-related data. The training program also introduces multiple up-to-date, open and free platforms and software for data processing and visualization such as OpenRefine, Tableau, Data wrapper, Flourish, Piktochart. 

The training consists of 6 modules: 

  • Module 1: From Evidence to Stories. This component introduces data and how you could use it to create forest stories. It will also explain what open data is and how it affects policy at the national level. Through the analysis of a number of case studies, participants will explore how data from various sectors have been used to create data-driven stories.
  • Module 2: Finding Data, Data Collection & Data Formats. This component introduces basic knowledge of data formats, the skills to find data online, sample tools that are used for collecting data, and the concepts to transform data into stories. Starting with a review of data formats, the unit moves on to techniques used to find, convert and process data that is in different formats, and how to develop a hypothesis and questions for a data Selected open-source tools will be introduced to you in case you require tools supporting your data collection, such as Mapeo – Mobile
  • Module 3: Understanding Data. This component will introduce basic concepts of data organization and cleaning as well as questions to help you evaluate the source of the It will also cover basic calculations and an introduction to statistics. The ethics and potential pitfalls of working with data will also be covered.  
  • Module 4: Data Visualization. This component will introduce the basics of effective communication with data visualization, focusing on best practices in visually communicating data, emphasizing on techniques and tools that could be used to convey knowledge and information through visual stories, not just dry statistics. Participants will be trained in a handful of data visualization software including Datawrapper and Tableau.
  • Module 5: Thinking like a Data Journalist. Using all the data skills learned in the previous modules, participants will be divided into groups based on their interests and will dive into the relevant datasets in order to produce stories by using these datasets. Participants will be throughout guided by the expert in this process.
  • Module 6: Digital Rights and Data Security. Working with data in the digital age raises concerns about the privacy and rights of data owners. Key online security practices will be recommended when using technologies, including smartphones, computers, datasets, and the Internet in their daily activities. Participants will learn about threat modeling, risk assessment, and how to ensure data security.   

Training contents will be delivered in Vietnamese and English (with translation).

Tentative training schedule

  • Week 1 (Module 1 & 2): 6-10 July 2020; Venue: Ha Long, Quang Ninh.
  • Week 2 (Module 3 & 4): 10-14 August 2020
  • Week 3 (Module 5 & 6): 21-25 September 2020

Requirement for application

  • The applicants should work in the development field (either from civil societies, NGOs, local forest communities, local journalists), preference is given to applicants of organization in the forest and environment sector.
  • The applicants need to attend and complete all the programs in 3 weeks.
  • The applicants have their own laptops.

Please APPLY here for being selected.

The deadline for application is June 29, 2020.

Any request, kindly contact:

FREE course and allowance supported (including domestic transportation, accommodation, food, etc.).

Open Development Vietnam