ISCAP Proceedings: Abstract Presentation
Data-4-Good - A framework to enhance technical education through academic competition and gamification
Jason Davidson
Butler University
Matthew Lanham
Butler University
Ankur Gupta
Butler University
Abstract
Recent AACSB reports show the demand for students with skills in data analytics is at an all-time high (Mills et al., 2022). In response, universities, vocational programs, and online training services have expanded their offering to skill up graduates entering the evolving workforce. However, as these programs continue to emerge, they must consider how to build a program that bridges the gap between traditional course work and experiential learning that will allow students to quickly transition from the classroom to the boardroom. This two-year study develops, deploys, and evaluates a framework that creates a comprehensive and altruistic themed experience fostering student mastery in critical thinking, data analysis, and AI by applying learned skills to address societal issues. This framework was validated with the creation of the Data 4 Good competition. This nationwide data analytics competitions challenges students to not only compete against their peers across the nation, but also adds gamification components such as badging and certifications. The outcome of this study was the creation of an ongoing nationwide competition serving over 2,000 students over the past two years. The results of our analysis show a high success rate in student certification and job placement upon completing the competition, as well as an increased perception of educational value in students compared to the traditional coursework counterparts. Not only will the competition created as part of this study continue, the associated framework can be used to create additional experiential learning opportunities to help hone the workforce of the future.