Collaborative Research: RETTL: Story Studio: Coaching Data Storytelling at Scale

数据科学和分析专业人士擅长数据叙事，这是一种使用数据传达故事的复杂技能。如果做得好，数据叙事可以增强公众的理解、决策和行动。然而，数据科学的高等教育工作者还不能有效地大规模培训数据故事讲述者。为了解决这个问题，来自阿拉巴马大学和马里兰大学巴尔的摩县的研究人员，以及来自SRI教育的学习科学家正在共同致力于这个项目，以创建、开发和测试Story Studio。该平台旨在增强数据科学教育者的能力，教他们的学生数据讲故事的技能。本项目分为四个阶段：1)通过以证据为中心的设计和认知任务分析为基础的结构化访谈方法，从数据科学专业人员中提取知识，开发关键数据讲故事步骤和能力的设计模式，并让高等教育工作者和学生参与审查Story Studio的概念和设计。2)对Story Studio的基本架构进行迭代开发和小规模beta测试，以指导数据讲故事的基本方面。3)扩展beta测试以包含更高级的Story Studio功能，即智能推荐和评估，以支持学生在故事构建过程中。4)在两个校区的数据科学/分析课程中对Story Studio进行课堂试点研究，并评估新工具在提高学生数据讲故事能力方面的有效性。关于“故事工作室”的研究成果将通过教育和推广活动进行传播，例如在研究人员所在的大学校园、社区学院合作伙伴关系和教师培训讲习班等。最后，软件、算法和去识别的日志数据将通过一个开源数据库共享，有助于学习科学和数据叙事分析研究。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Professionals in data science and analytics excel in data storytelling, a complex skill of communicating stories using data. If done well, data storytelling can enhance public understanding, decision-making, and action. However, postsecondary educators in data science have not been able to train data storytellers effectively at a large scale. To address this issue, researchers from the University of Alabama and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and learning scientists from SRI Education are working together on this project to create, develop, and test Story Studio. This platform aims to augment data science educators’ capacity to teach their students the skill of data storytelling.This project features four phases: 1) Extracting knowledge from data science professionals through structured interview methods grounded in Evidence-Centered Design and Cognitive Task Analysis, developing design patterns of key data storytelling steps and competencies, and engaging postsecondary educators and students in vetting the concept and design of Story Studio. 2) Iterative development and small-scale beta testing of Story Studio’s basic architecture for coaching elementary aspects of data storytelling. 3) Expanding beta testing to comprise more advanced Story Studio functionalities, namely, intelligent recommendations and assessments to support students in the story construction process. 4) Conducting classroom pilot studies of Story Studio in data science/analytics courses at two campuses and evaluating the new tool’s effectiveness in improving students’ data storytelling competencies. Research products about Story Studio will be disseminated through education and outreach activities such as storytelling workshops on the researchers’ university campuses, community college partnerships, and teacher training workshops. Finally, the software, algorithms, and de-identified log data will be shared through an open-source database, contributing to learning science and analytics research in data storytelling.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.