Open Data Training

Guide 1: An Introduction to Open Data

Description

Content Outline

• Workshop introductions, and an introduction to our topics (10 minutes)
• Think-Pair-Share: What is open data? Define. (10 minutes)
• Case Study Exploration: (15 minutes)
    • Example 1: Growth in the Time of Debt
    • Example 2: Human Genome Project
• The Benefits of Open Data in 8 Easy Points (5 minutes)
• Challenges to Open Data: Role Playing Exercise (10 minutes)
• Additional Resources (10 minutes)

Instructor Guide

Instructor Prerequisites:

• Familiarity with Open Data Training Primer 1
• Close review of Instructor Guides and all supporting materials for this module

1. Topic 1: Introductions and Discussion about Open Data

   (10 minutes)

   • Introductions

     • Instructor (3 minutes)
       • Explain your background, how you became involved in open data.
     • Why this training, why Mozilla? (2 minutes)
       •   • Intro the training series, and how it was created (collaboration, sprints, output of fellows program)
       •   • Structure of the session, content exploration through activities
       •   • Why MSL and Mozilla are involved, your relationship to Mozilla
     • Why open data now? (2 minutes)
       •   • More data than ever-- define types of data here
       •   • Pressure from funders, want more impact from data
       •   • The web as sharing/collaboration tool
     • Data Management SNAFU Video (YouTube) (3 minutes)

2. Topic 2: Think-Pair-Share Exercise

   (2 minutes writing, 3 minutes sharing)

   • What is Open Data?

     1. Participants spend 2 minutes thinking of a definition and, if possible, supporting examples.
     2. Participants pair up to share and talk through their thoughts with another participant.
        

        Depending on the size of the group, insights can be shared whole group or recorded on a white board, etherpad or other shared document.

     3. Once think-pair-share is complete, the instructor should help the group come to a definition (5 minutes)

3. Topic 3: Case Study Exploration

   (10 minutes review, 5 minutes sharing)

   Group case studies allow participants to interpret and draw conclusions from the cases without instructor intervention; several cases can be discussed quickly.

   Working together, students review a case to summarize the details and present any controversies involved in the case. Suggested cases:
     • Reinhart and Rogoff (PDF)
     • Celera and HGP (PDF)

   Cases may be assigned prior to the session, if possible and preferable.

   

   Instructors should select cases that have elements of controversy for good discussions.

4. Topic 4: Benefits of Open Data

   (5 minutes)

   Run through the seven benefits from Primer 1 (Why Open Data?), with brief explanations.

5. Topic 5: Challenges to open data

   (role playing exercise, 10 minutes)

   Participants practice responding to common challenges to opening data, and advocating for open data.

   Instructor starts by asking group for challenges they’ve heard, suggests a few.

   

   See “Common Challenges” document for challenges to mention, but give group a chance to come up with their own. Share the document AFTER the role-play.

   Instructor assigns roles to participants using cards: each role has a position (for or against open data), a background (ie, administrator), and motivation (for example, publishing a first paper, getting more grants, making administrative tasks easier, getting a post-doc position, getting tenure).

   

   Participants can ask for a blank card and make their own character/scenario if they’d prefer.

   Participants pair up (pro with con/undecided) and do a 3 minutes role play conversation.

   Ask for reflections/thoughts on how this felt, what did you learn, any insights.
   Point users to the Challenges document as a guide for these conversations.

6. Topic 6: Resources and Wrap

   (< 5 minutes)

   Provide links to Primer 1, and other relevant resources.

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