Developing a Data Literacy and Visualization Service Learning Course that Fulfills Undergraduate Quantitative Literacy Requirements

As an alternative to college algebra, researchers developed an introductory Data Literacy and Visualization course that fulfills the quantitative literacy requirement for undergraduate students. In this service learning course, students work with community partners to analyze data with an emphasis on proper visualization, culminating in a final report and presentation that answers the partner’s questions. This article describes the design and curriculum of the course, including how students engage with community partners, and summarizes student experiences and outcomes. Results from the pre- and post-class survey suggest that participating students increase their confidence in quantitative literacy. Students also show more interest in STEM fields after taking the class.