Data Science in Undergraduate Life Science Education: A Need for Instructor Skills Training.

ABSTRACT: There is a clear demand for quantitative literacy in the life sciences, necessitating competent instructors in higher education. However, not all instructors are versed in data science skills or research-based teaching practices. We surveyed biological and environmental science instructors (n = 106) about the teaching of data science in higher education, identifying instructor needs and illuminating barriers to instruction. Our results indicate that instructors use, teach, and view data management, analysis, and visualization as important data science skills. Coding, modeling, and reproducibility were less valued by the instructors, although this differed according to institution type and career stage. The greatest barriers were instructor and student background and space in the curriculum

SUBMITTER: Emery NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8634500 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature