Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Summer 2023 - FASS 211 E100

STT-Data Literacy and the City (1)

Data Literacy and the City

Class Number: 2882

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    May 8 – Jun 19, 2023: Thu, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    15 units.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Finding, analyzing, and communicating data findings can be three of the most valuable professional and academic skills a student of the City can have. This course is high level overview at the development of these skills. The course focuses on finding and defining problems, and critical reading of data rather than software proficiency or statistical techniques. Math skills are not required.

COURSE DETAILS:

The abilities to find, analyze, and communicate data can be three of the most valuable professional and academic skills a student can have. This course is a high-level overview for the development of these skills. However, the one data skill to rule them all is not necessarily software proficiency or statistical technique, it is the ability to find and define a problem. To this extent, data is not valuable until one understands a dataset’s strengths, weaknesses, and its social, historic, and methodological context with a strategy to create a persuasive visual and written narrative.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

At the end of this course, students will be able to:

  • identify a basic software stack for data analysis,
  • visualization, and presentation;
  • develop a functional understanding of how to find Census information;
  • explain the geographic scale of a Canadian federal structured data set;
  • using the Canadian Census as an example, develop a critical perspective on the strength, weaknesses, and context for datasets with a critical perspective on measures like indigeneity, ethnicity, gender, and income.

FASS 211 runs for 5 weeks (May 8-June 9). The first session is 1 hour, the rest of 4 sessions are 3 hours each. This is a 1 credit course.

Grading

  • Based on: three sentence professional biography/participation; “Know your Census” assignment; data journal and individual presentation of one entry 100%

NOTES:

This FASS Forward course is delivered entirely in-person. It is designed to improve your skills for future success and work in this class is expected to be of high quality. A competency-based grading system will be used to assess your academic performance and active participation in all learning activities. That means only a P (pass) or F (fail) will appear on your transcript. There is no numerical equivalent for the final grade, and it does not affect either your grade point average or cumulative grade point average.

  • P (pass) means that you have demonstrated your competency in relation to the learning objectives, met all the criteria for the course, and demonstrated the skills you have acquired.
  • F (fail) means that you do not receive credit for the course.

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Files and Links - Readings on Canvas.

There are two types of materials for this class:

  • Readings which students are expected to be familiar with at the beginning of class
  • Resources which are typically available online and will assist in the assignments and going into the week’s subject matter in depth.

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the semester are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.