Session 6 Family Guide

Data Science for Young Minds — Tips for families facilitating Session 6: Data and Fairness

Overview

Can data be unfair? Yes. Learn how data can help or hurt people, and the responsibilities that come with using information.

Facilitating Each Lesson

Lesson 1: Can Data Be Unfair?

Tip: Data seems objective, but the people who collect, analyze, and use it make choices that can introduce unfairness. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about the myth of objective data: every dataset reflects human choices?"

Lesson 2: Who Is Missing From the Data?

Tip: When certain people are not represented in data, decisions based on that data can harm them. Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about who gets counted and who gets left out?"

Lesson 3: When Algorithms Decide

Tip: Algorithms make decisions about loans, jobs, schools, and justice. What happens when they are biased? Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about what an algorithm is in this context: a set of rules a computer follows to make decisions?"

Lesson 4: Being a Responsible Data User

Tip: Create your own principles for using data ethically. What does it mean to use data responsibly? Take time to let your child explore and share their thoughts.

Try asking: "What do you think about the responsibilities of anyone who collects or uses data?"

Conversation Starters

"What did you learn about the myth of objective data: every dataset reflects human choices?"
"What did you learn about who gets counted and who gets left out?"
"What did you learn about what an algorithm is in this context: a set of rules a computer follows to make decisions?"
"What did you learn about the responsibilities of anyone who collects or uses data?"