Data Walking: Designing Tools to Build Critical Data Literacy

The ubiquity of data in urban spaces requires improved critical data literacy in city planning, workplaces, education, and society. Tools for activities like citizen science and self-tracking are typically tailored to gather specific data in a set schema and therefore unsuitable for engaging beyond their predefined framework. To support engagement with open-ended data creation, we proposed tools focused on data types, and user-defined rather than fixed topics. We followed a research through design process to develop open source smartphone web apps that combine digital capabilities with human perception and sense-making. Through multiple data walking workshops and a user study we found that open-ended tools lead to data creation on unexpected topics beyond typical data logging tools, prompted deep reflection on our (datafied) urban surroundings, and supported discussions on critical data literacy. We document tool development, evaluation, and share design takeaways for tools to empower communities through situated data.