Donate

Data Dunkers Program

Data Dunkers is an innovative basketball and data science learning experience for students in grades 5-12. Students learn foundational data science skills through basketball statistics in a fun and inclusive environment.

The program consists of learning activities designed to explore how to find meaning in data, primarily using open data from the NBA and WNBA. Students engage in data analysis by defining a question, collecting, cleaning, and
analyzing data, and effectively communicating results. Beyond this, the initiative serves as a launchpad for global competencies, such as critical thinking and problem solving, and discovering career pathways within the realm of data science. 

The Why

  • The amount of data in our world has exponentially increased over the past two decades, yet the opportunities to learn about data and acquire data-related skills remain few and far between.
  • Data Science can help make more informed decisions, answer questions, and discover new directions to look in.
  • Data Scientist is considered to be a top in-demand occupation; Data analysts and scientists, artificial intelligence, and big data professionals ranked as the top 3 jobs demanded globally. The share of global companies planning to adopt “big data” analytics (90%+), cybersecurity (85%+), and artificial intelligence (80%+) has increased during COVID. (World Economic Forum, 2020)

World Economic Forum (2020). The Future of Jobs Report 2020

Students Will:

  • Learn foundational data science skills as they work through data related problems
  • Develop global competencies such as critical thinking and problem solving, which can be applied to a broader world
  • Grow storytelling skills by sharing their data science learning
  • Discover and explore career pathways and opportunities in data science
KEY COMPONENTS ACTIVITIES, TOOLS, & TECHNIQUES
Learn Data Science Through Basketball
  • Leverage basketball statistics from both the NBA and the WNBA, with an emphasis on those of Pascal Siakam
  • Build student understanding of data science through Python and Jupyter Notebooks
Differentiated Learning
  • All students are provided with the opportunity to be successful with coding and Jupyter Notebooks regardless of level of readiness
  • Learn essential concepts and apply them to real world scenarios
Design Thinking Process
  • Engage in the design thinking process (empathize, ideate, prototype, and test)
  • Promote global competencies (communication, collaboration, creativity, critical thinking, and problem solving)

Inquiry

(Personal Projects)
  • Explore data sets through basketball or other domains of interest
  • Encourage student voice and choice to build both digital and data science skills
  • Amplify creativity and personalization
Career Opportunities
  • Seek new opportunities in the field
  • Discover and explore career pathways and opportunities in data science

If you are interested in participating in this program, please fill out this expression of interest form or contact [email protected] for any questions.