Infusing Data Analytics Skills into Project-Based Learning for Computer Science and Engineering Education

A workforce equipped with essential data analytics skills is crucial to maintaining the United States' competitiveness and security in the global arena. Data analytics skills are in high demand in order to generate data-driven, robust solutions to solving the biggest challenges that our society is facing today. This paper presents the technical approach that facilitates the infusion of data analytics skills into Project-Based Learning (ProjBL) pedagogies for selected Computer Science and Engineering courses. The experimental results obtained from three pilot courses in computer science, mechanical engineering, and construction management showed the effectiveness of the approach in enhancing students' ability to understand data, analyze data and develop data-driven solutions. The feedback from student surveys also provide satisfactory outcome as expected. This US Department of Education (USED) sponsored study intends to share the project team's experience and lessons learned with the STEM education community.