 Joy and Data: Sir Michael Barber delivers joyful lecture
In his opening address for the inaugural lecture on joy and data, Sir Michael Barber recounted how a London physician, John Snow, was able the show the source of a cholera outbreak with the help of data.
By mapping the incidences of cholera he was able to determine that the source was a contaminated water pump, therefore abating the epidemic. Did this bring joy? To those that were at risk of contamination, you could say yes.
And so Sir Michael set the scene on how the effective use of data could increase the learning process and enhance the learning experience to bring joy. He highlighted how in the modern world, joy and data are often seen as opposites; the one creative, spontaneous, warm, and spiritual; the other, scientific, bureaucratic, cold and analytical – stating as a society ‘we need to reclaim data as an ally in improving the human condition’.
Over the hour lecture, Sir Michael delighted the audience with his colourful stories and insights into the importance of data to education. He said ‘evidence-based data is not enough, we need learning leaders to navigate, interpret and decide how best to use the data. Bold leaders are needed to lead the transformation in education’.
Missed out on the lecture? Watch the lecture here or visit our website at www.all-learning.org.au.
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