Kid's Survey Network : teaching data literacy with multiplayer online games

Abstract

Current advancements in technology have permeated modern society, especially among the younger generations of computer users. Today's youth have grown up accustomed to video games and online social networking as standard elements of life. In contrast, many people of all ages today do not have a good grasp of data literacy. Many people simply do not understand statistics, charts, graphs and other survey data, which are all very commonly used in all aspects of everyday life. Kids' Survey Network is a large project that aims to focus the comfort and proficiency that middle school students have with web technology into an effective education tool to teach data literacy. This thesis project entails the creation of a suite of multiplayer learning games that reinforce the various other components of Kids' Survey Network.