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University of Copenhagen

Data Literacy – What is it and why does it matter?

You might already know that data is not neutral. Our values and assumptions are influenced by the data surrounding us - the data we create, the data we collect, and the data we share with each other. Economic needs, social structures, or algorithmic biases can have profound consequences for the way we collect and use data. Most often, the result is an increase of inequity in the world. Data also changes the way we interact. It shapes our thoughts, our feelings, our preferences and actions. It determines what we have access to, and what not. It enables global dissemination of best practices and life improving technologies, as well as the spread of mistrust and radicalization. This is why data literacy matters. A key principle of data literacy is to have a heightened awareness of the risks and opportunities of data-driven technologies and to stay up-to-date with their consequences. In this course, we view data literacy from three perspectives: Data in personal life, data in society, and data in knowledge production. The aim is threefold: 1. To expand your skills and abilities to identify, understand, and interpret the many roles of digital technologies in daily life. 2. To enable you to discern when data-driven technologies add value to people’s lives, and when they exploit human vulnerabilities or deplete the commons. 3. To cultivate a deeper understanding of how data-driven technologies are shaping knowledge production and how they may be realigned with real human needs and values. The course is funded by Erasmus+ and developed by the 4EU+ University Alliance including Charles University (Univerzita Karlova), Sorbonne Unviersity (Sorbonne Université), University of Copenhagen (Københavns Universitet), University of Milan (Università degli studi di Milano), and University of Warsaw (Uniwersytet Warszawski).

Status: Data Security
Status: Data Sharing
BeginnerCourse11 hours

Featured reviews

WC

5.0Reviewed Apr 9, 2026

The module were easy and understandable for something that may help us in future and be aware of what is good and bad.

SA

5.0Reviewed Dec 7, 2025

Exceptiona with a lot of first hand information and reading tools

SR

5.0Reviewed Nov 25, 2022

This course is really a awareness course regarding how to take care of personal Data as well as professional data.

YS

5.0Reviewed Mar 2, 2025

I really appreciate the unceasing support of Coursera

AA

5.0Reviewed Feb 21, 2026

Data literacy matters because it helps people understand, evaluate, and use data responsibly and effectively in everyday life, work, and society.

FT

4.0Reviewed Apr 6, 2025

This has really been an eye opener for me. and I have learned a lot about what data is.

AA

5.0Reviewed Mar 9, 2025

That's a great course on Data Literacy, and very informative

TP

5.0Reviewed Mar 31, 2025

The resources are so useful and easy to digest. Also for a person without big screen device I was able to get reading resources on the parts where my device couldn't open videos.

EP

5.0Reviewed Aug 4, 2025

It was really insightful and gives me more rooms to learn more on it

KM

5.0Reviewed Jan 31, 2025

Great, awesome, fruitful, great learning process, thanks for making learning and studying this interesting

MM

4.0Reviewed Jan 9, 2026

This course really impacted me to have high data literacy such that am compelled to come up with a youth Data Protection Awareness and Ethics movement

FP

5.0Reviewed Jul 7, 2022

The couse help sin identifying real data and managing it

All reviews

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