Increased AI Use Drives Need for Data Literacy

The growing use of artificial intelligence (AI) across government calls for a new set of skills to ensure its promised efficiencies and intelligence are fully realized. AI is making it easier to utilize all of the data government agencies hold, but at the same time, it is producing more data for employees to interpret. As a result, data literacy is evolving and becoming a critical component of success in the modern workplace.

Data literacy is the ability to read, understand, analyze, and communicate data effectively. It is about understanding the story the data is telling and using that insight to make decisions. This understanding impacts even the most basic of tasks — logging hours in a timesheet system, transcribing data into a digital system, looking up an answer to a citizen inquiry, or analyzing a policy. Understanding how data is going to be used, and how it was collected in the first place, provides a holistic view of how an organization uses such information to function. This, in turn, drives better data collection and use.

Many of these basic tasks are now being completed via AI. While AI is great at inputting and parsing through vast amounts of information, if that data is inaccurate, irrelevant, or incomplete, it can present outputs that lead to flawed decisions that have real-world consequences for citizens. Today’s government workforce must ensure that their ability to understand and use data keeps pace with the technical evolution of AI.

To enhance your data literacy, consider these activities, which can improve your understanding and use of data:

• Start with the fundamentals. Ensure you understand basic terms, including structured data (numbers in spreadsheets) and unstructured data (text and images), as well as basic statistical concepts like mean, median, correlation, variance, and standard deviation. Refreshers on all of these are available via a quick web search that will provide numerous videos and articles to provide this data 101 education.
• Practice using available data. Identify a key question you need to answer, then explore the information you have access to that can support that query. Use existing AI tools, as well as conduct manual searches of data sources. Ensure you have a big enough or comprehensive set of data and then look at it for patterns or trends.
• Get familiar with tools. Become more familiar with all the data tools available to you. Start with basic office spreadsheet applications, learning new ways to sort and combine data to uncover trends. Many online tutorials are available to teach advanced spreadsheet functions. Learn which business intelligence tools are in use at your agency, and use them to build charts and dashboards. For location-related data, find GIS tools that allow you to overlay information on maps.
• Apply critical thinking. Constantly evaluate the sources of data to ensure credibility and reliability. Discover how the data in a set was collected in order to flag any potential biases or gaps in it. Question conclusions: just because two trends align doesn’t mean one caused the other. For example, a rise in crime rates during the summer could be influenced by increased outdoor activity rather than a concurrent change in policy.
• Keep learning. Take advantage of any training on data or AI offered by your agency. Seek out webinars and in-person events that provide training on and discussion of data use and trends. Subscribe to newsletters from media outlets that cover data use in government.

Becoming more data literate is a strategic advantage in today’s workforce. More than just a technical skill, it is a way of thinking that will position you for career growth. By starting with the basics, using the right tools, and continually refining your skills, you can harness the power of data to make a meaningful impact on agency missions.

As the founder of GovEvents and GovWhitePapers, Kerry is on a mission to help businesses interact with, evolve, and serve the government. With 25+ years of experience in the information technology and government industries, Kerry drives the overall strategy and oversees operations for both companies. She has also served in executive marketing roles at a number of government IT providers.

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