Data-Driven Thinking

Course Description

Data is everywhere, but understanding it is not always straightforward. It can be counterintuitive, and in the wrong hands, it can be misleading. This first-year seminar introduces students to the tools and habits of mind needed to work with data confidently and critically from accessing and organizing it, to visualizing and interpreting it in ways that strengthen an argument and sharpen understanding.

Through hands-on work with probability, simple simulations, and real-world examples, students will discover that data-driven thinking is not just for scientists and analysts, but it is a foundational skill for navigating nearly every field and every decision. While this course is particularly well-suited for students intending to major in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, or Astronomy, it is open to students in any major who want to think more clearly about the world around them.

Faculty Spotlight

Kevin Sanft, Ph.D. – Department Chair, Computer Science

Academic background

Dr. Kevin Sanft got his undergraduate degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Augsburg College, a small liberal arts college in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After working for a few years (primarily at the Mayo Clinic and medical device company Medtronic), he went to graduate school at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he got his Ph.D. in Computer Science. Dr. Sanft taught at St. Olaf College in Minnesota and then spent a year as a postdoc at the University of Minnesota before coming to UNC Asheville in 2015.

What makes this course meaningful for students?

UNC Asheville offers a program called DATASCI that provides scholarships, mentorship, professional development, and other opportunities for students majoring in Computer Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Physics, and Astronomy. Most of the incoming DATASCI cohort will be enrolled in Dr. Sanft’s First-Year Seminar (FYS), with the intention that shared coursework will help students build a sense of connection and community right away. This course focuses on “data-driven thinking,” an approach that encourages students to think like scientists and to critically examine the various ways intuition can sometimes be misleading.

Favorite spot in Asheville

Dr. Sanft coaches Little League baseball and considers one of his favorite places to be the ball field, where children in the community come together to play the game. He values the opportunity to be part of an environment where families gather to cheer on both teams, fostering a positive and supportive atmosphere. He finds the experience both meaningful and fun.