Be the Data: An Embodied Experience for Data Analytics

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: Learning in Immersive Environments: Science, Statistics, Assessments, and Learner Characteristics

Abstract

This paper describes the application of an immersive system, Be the Data, that dynamically generates data visualizations for teaching abstract statistical concepts. In this system, each student is literally a data point in a dataset that is visualized in the room; coordinates in the room are coordinates in a two-dimensional plane to which the high-dimensional data are projected. As an immersive system, it is developed to initiate collaborative and social learning strategies for concepts including, data points, variables, weights, and visualizations. We presented Be the Data during a computer science outreach day for 62 seventh grade female students. Videos and survey data from the workshop suggest that Be the Data successfully provided an engaging learning experience.

Authors

• Xin Chen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Leanna L. House, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Jessica Zeitz Self, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Scotland C. Leman, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Jane Robertson Evia, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• James Thomas Fry, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

• Chris North, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University