Datathons across the globe: Potential for the development of (Open) Data Literacy

This paper introduces a study aimed at understanding informal learning to develop open data literacy. Based on the open datasets and reports published by the Open Knowledge Foundation (OKF) on the globally organised event Open Data Day 2021, we extracted 20 records and applied to them quantitative and thematic analysis. Convergent and diversified patterns of engagement with the Open Data Day across the five continents were observed. On this basis, some formal and particularly, informal learning activities arise as a collaborative and participatory work of data communities seeking to work with open data. Along the several experiences there is concern about the technical skills to search, find and use Open Data, including data storytelling abilities. However, this set of abilities was not connected with a set of critical and holistic skills, required to promote some of the goals expressed by the ODDs. Overall, integrating formal and informal learning into a situated context should be considered to promote open data literacy.