Community Education Centre (CEC)
The second pillar of the CICP is our commitment to building a lasting and flexible infrastructure to promote access and understanding of the data collected about the sector. A crucial component of this infrastructure is the Community Education Centre (CEC), which features Data Literacy courses, starting with Data Literacy 1.0.
The below modules are open to the public and are intended to act as a resource to help actors and decision-makers in the sector better understand the data available to them.
Learning to Interpret Data
Data literacy is often described as the ability to examine, analyze, and communicate with data in a critical and ethical manner. Our aim is to increase participants’ confidence in working with data while promoting critical and ethical reflection in data use.
Data literacy is broad, but it’s principle is critical. Data is all around us and being able to collect, read, and communicate it is vital for informed decision-making. Especially today, where ‘big-data’ is growing increasingly, proper data-literacy is more important than ever for organizational success.
The following data literacy courses are intended to help professionals working in the charitable and non-profit sector collect, read, and/or communicate data in a meaningful way. All modules are open to the public, free of charge.
Data Literacy 1.0
Data Literacy 1.0 – Module 1
Data Literacy 1.0 Module 1: Data in the Nonprofit Sector CICP Community Education Centre Preface Welcome to Data Literacy 1.0…
Other Useful Resources –
As we continue developing our CEC Data Literacy materials, we also want to highlight valuable resources from other organizations that support the sector. While the list below is not exhaustive, we hope it helps you find the guidance you need to expand your organization’s data knowledge and literacy.
Know of an important data literacy resource we haven’t included? Let us know! Send us an email at CICP.Resesarch@carleton.ca.
Statistics Canada’s Data Literacy Training
As Canada’s national statistical organization, Statistics Canada offers a comprehensive data literacy training program. The goal is to provide learners with information on basic concepts and skills across a range of data literacy topics. Their learning catalogue is organized by steps on the data journey and can be sorted by title, data competency, level, and type.
The Data Literacy Project
This initiative provides a variety of free courses designed to enhance data literacy. Modules cover topics such as understanding data, data storytelling, and data-informed decision-making. While not exclusively for non-profits, the content is broadly applicable and beneficial.
CanadaHelps’ Data Literacy Workshop
Supported by the Ontario Trillium Foundation, CanadaHelps offers a Data Literacy Workshop aimed at empowering charities to effectively use data. This initiative is part of a series of data services developed to support the charitable sector.
Data Literacy for Social Change
This program provides training for non-profit organizations on how to use data to advance their mission and evaluate programming. It focuses on helping organizations understand program implementation and outcomes through data.
Canadian Centre for Nonprofit Digital Resilience
This center aims to help nonprofits thrive in a tech-driven world by promoting the use of data and technology to advance their missions and multiply their impact. They offer resources and support to build digital capacity within the sector.
Data Literacy Training by Data Literacy for All
Tableau’s initiative provides free online data skills training designed to fit busy schedules, allowing individuals and organizations to level up their data knowledge and gain valuable, in-demand skills.
Data Literacy Program by EMILI
Focused on digital agriculture, EMILI’s data literacy program aims to position individuals to ask the right questions when considering investments in new digital technology. While agriculture-focused, the foundational concepts are transferable.