Students will define power and Data Mining.
Students will research the use of data mining on a large group.
Students will evaluate a beneficial effect from the data mining and a harmful effect from the data mining.
Students will identify and assess the impact of data mining on a large group.
Students will explore the relationship between power and data mining. Is data mining being used to create power?
Students will reflect upon the importance of personal data privacy vs using data mining to improve the quality of life.
Relevant Enduring Understandings (DAT-2), (IOC-1)
Data mining is the industry of data analysis. Large sets of data are gathered and analyzed to find patterns and create new knowledge.Power can be defined from many perspectives. One definition of power is action/work over a period of time based on the scientific formula of power. Dr. Karenga, a political scientist, defines power as the capability to put thought into action.
In this section, students will explore the relationship between data mining and power. They will select an industry or group and will analyze the use of data mining for that group. They will identify beneficial and harmful effects that have resulted and will explore the impact that has occurred because of the data mining. Finally, students will thoughtfully and critically evaluate whether data mining is or could be used to create power. Finally, students will reflect upon the importance of personal data privacy or data mining for the improvement of the quality of life.
Activity 5.6.1 (55 minutes)
Give students the note sheet for Power and Data Mining.
Think-Pair-Share: What is power?
From the class discussion, write a definition of power or characteristics of power. Be authentic in allowing all opinions and voices to be heard. This could be a highly personal opinion for many students.
Think-Pair-Share: What is data mining? How is it a strategy for power, where power is defined as action/work over time?
From discussion, write a definition of data mining. Data mining is the exploration and analysis of large data sets to discover meaningful patterns and rules. (Microstrategy.com). It can be on a small scale like what the students are doing on their ARC #4 challenge or it can be on an extremely large scale. Fortune 500 companies pay for data mining to improve their products and drive their profits up. Political parties may rely on data mining to refine their platforms and messages. The healthcare industry systematically uses data and analytics to identify inefficiencies and best practices that improve care and reduce costs.
How is Big Data being used to design for power? Student groups select a large group --- politics, economy, education, medical community, etc. They then research the impact that data mining in their industry has made on the selected large group. They must identify & explain both a positive impact and a negative impact. This will be added as a web page to their topic website.
Reflection: What is more important, personal privacy or data mining that could improve your quality of life?