Kaleidoscopic Perspectives on Practicum-Based Data Science Education

The acquisition of practical data science skills is at the forefront of our minds as Early Career Board members. We come from a variety of professional backgrounds and have learned practical skills in different ways, some of which were more effective than others. Through their description of Boston University’s M.S. in Statistical Practice (MSSP) program, Kolaczyk et al. (“Statistics Practicum: Placing ‘Practice’ at the Center of Data Science Education,” this issue) inspired us to consider our own experiences with practical learning and how well it worked for our individual career goals. The perspectives below summarize our discussions on the utility, attraction, and value of a practicum-based data science education. Moderated by Catherine Zucker and Will Seaton, each of us shared our experiences, debated the merits, and clarified our opinions through these conversations.