Data Literacy: Turning the key to unlocking data as a strategic asset

I have always been fascinated with data. There’s something inherently mesmerizing about a data dashboard and the ability to turn numbers into stories. However, as a former literature major and self-proclaimed word nerd, I’ve always found numbers to be … intimidating. Scary. Unfathomable.

When the UIT Data team announced their Power BI Cookbook Series, I immediately signed up. The series was tailored for anyone interested in data (no analyst experience required) and served as a baseline introduction to using Power BI and building data dashboards. Over the course of three sessions, the Data team walked us through how to build a dashboard, from asking the right questions to extracting the right data sets to creating a data visualization that tells a story. Each session offered an overview of basic data knowledge and a hands-on experiential assignment designed to familiarize participants with Power BI.

At the end of the series, I was a convert. No longer just a word nerd, but now a burgeoning data nerd as well. The series was delivered in a way that made data not only approachable, but (gasp!) fun. At the end of the third session, I had created my first data dashboard, and was already brainstorming excuses to make ways to integrate more data visualizations that would enhance my overall storytelling.

The Power BI Cookbook Series is part of the Data team’s larger data literacy program, which includes introductory training and support, as well as a shared community of practice for data analysts and other employees with at least 0.5 FTE in data roles. The program is a key aspect of the Data Modernization Pathway, not just delivering data but also fostering an understanding of the data and how to use it. These efforts are part of a larger initiative to elevate OSU’s data culture across the university.

Understanding the data to use the data

Data literacy is foundational to unlocking data as a strategic asset and to creating a robust data culture. I recently sat down with Chrysanthemum Hayes, Director of Decision Support, and Lizzi Wolfram, Engagement + Education Analyst, from the Data & Information Architecture team, to learn more about what data literacy is, why it’s important, and how it will help OSU achieve its strategic objectives.

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Q. What is data literacy? Why is it important?

Data literacy equips individuals to effectively ask questions and find answers using data, helping them access information needed for understanding or taking action. Like language literacy, it involves learning definitions, basic structures and patterns, and methods of communication, enabling people to analyze, interpret, and communicate insights. Ultimately, data literacy is about asking relevant questions, understanding data’s implications and limitations, and applying findings to make informed decisions.

Data literacy is a learnable and approachable set of skills that doesn’t require formal statistical or data science training. In fact, data literacy is for everyone who uses data for their work. Whether you're in HR, finance, facilities, or student services, being data literate means you can confidently engage in conversations that involve data without tuning out or feeling overwhelmed. It empowers users to move from “I think” to “I know.”

Data is everywhere. It’s behind the dashboards we check, the reports we share, and the decisions we make. When we’re data literate, we’re better equipped to spot patterns, challenge assumptions, and make choices that are grounded in evidence.

Q. What are you doing to help implement data literacy at OSU?

In many ways, everything we do is in the service of building a culture of data literacy at OSU. We currently have three areas of focus to help make data more accessible and approachable to leadership and decision makers, data analysts and data workers, and everyone else who touches or has an interest in data.

We are socializing information about our data sources and standard definitions with OSU leadership and decision makers so that when we deliver the data, they have what they need to make confident decisions on strategic objectives. We have been working with OSU employees engaged in data work to establish a shared community of practice and develop resources, communications, and training. And we are expanding our weekly Data Lab offerings, continuing to build awareness and meeting the needs of different data users where they are. For example, we held a special Data Lab with more than 60 academic advisors that focused on their data needs.

In all of our engagements, we encourage curiosity. We invite questions and try to demystify the data environment so that people feel confident navigating it. Our goal isn’t just to provide the answers, it’s to help others feel empowered to find answers themselves. We’ll always be here to support the OSU community, but we’re especially proud when we see people growing their own data skills and stepping into those conversations with confidence.