When you hear the words “AI” or “data,” what three adjectives come to mind? Intelligent? Complex? Transformative? How about accessible, attainable, and, dare I say, fun?
At Atrium, we love solving data challenges to help our customers make smarter decisions. But we believe AI and data shouldn’t just be reserved for driving business success. We want to bring data out from behind computer screens and make these concepts engaging, teachable, and something everyone — especially kids — can engage with and get excited about.
The creation of Data Detectives
In the fall of 2023, we launched the Data Detectives initiative as part of our social good effort. With my background in teaching, it was crucial for us to create something accessible, creative, and community-focused. That’s how Data Detectives came to life: A program designed for children aged 5-10 (K-5), where young minds can explore the exciting world of AI, cultivate STEM skills, and develop data literacy through reading and playing.
Our mission is simple:
- Provide accessible, engaging data-focused lessons and activities to children in the local Indianapolis area (and beyond).
- Cultivate children’s STEM skills by introducing them to various facets of AI and technology.
- Empower the next generation with data literacy.
- Combine creativity with computational thinking to solve real-world problems
A recap of 2024
In 2024, we had the privilege of partnering with the Brownsburg Public Library to pilot our Data Detectives program.
Pictured: Vivian Chiang with our collaborator Megan McCain, K-12 STEM Enrichment Coordinator, Brownsburg Public Library.
This year, we ran four exciting sessions, each with a detective-themed format that blends reading and hands-on activities. And, of course, every child earns a certificate of completion after solving the challenges.
Here’s a look at our four unique sessions:
1. AI in Our Phones: Exploring the basics of AI, with a focus on voice and image recognition.
Pictured: Tyler Pollard, one of our Lead Analytics Consultants, explaining how we use AI for voice recognition in our phones.
Pictured: Kristin Mangan, one of our Lead Strategy Consultants, reading a book about AI.
2. Data Visualization Using Tableau: Teaching kids what data is and how to tell compelling stories with it.
Guiding the children on collecting data and creating a bar chart using Tableau (hugs and fist bumps included).
3. Programmatic Thinking: Introducing basic coding concepts like sequences, loops, and “if” statements through fun activities like coding a sandcastle.
Pictured: Maddie Fuchs, one of our Data Scientists, reading to the kids.
Pictured: Cary Martin, one of our Analytics Consultants, demonstrating how to use sequences and loops to program a robot’s movements.
Creative Sandcastles
4. Magic Machine: Focusing on the basics of neural networks and machine learning to build AI models.
Pictured: Maddie Neely, one of our data scientists, working with the kids to train an AI model to identify and distinguish different bug types.
Three surprising lessons we learned from doing Data Detectives
In total, our Data Detectives sessions this year helped cultivate 43 young data detectives. We started the program with four lessons to teach them, but we quickly learned that the children had just as much to teach us! Here are the three key lessons we took away:
1. Humanity is the foundation of any technology.
Many kids already have a basic understanding of AI and data. However, the real magic happened when they saw how these concepts connect to their own lives. It turns out, it’s not the technology tools or screens that matter most; it’s the human connection.
Data literacy doesn’t thrive from screen time. It thrives through creativity, collaboration, and shared understanding. Whether reading together, playing together, or engaging with our passionate volunteers, the children reminded us that the best learning happens when we connect with others on a human level.
As adults, we sometimes forget that learning is most powerful when we engage with others and are reminded of the importance of community and interaction.
2. Playing is important no matter how old you are.
Another key discovery was how quickly kids grasp abstract concepts and turn them into something playful!
Whether they were visualizing data using Tableau or learning to code by building sandcastles, they embraced each challenge with curiosity and creativity. The more hands-on we got, the more they wanted to experiment and explore.
These children reminded us that play is a vital part of understanding. As adults, we could stand to play a little more, too! When we give ourselves the freedom to explore and have fun with new ideas, we unlock our own curiosity and creativity, just as the kids did!
3. The world is changing, but we’re all world changers.
One of the most powerful things we saw was how fearless the kids were when it came to learning new concepts or new tools. From training AI to recognize images to building AI models, they were eager problem-solvers who embraced each challenge with open arms.
These kids are capable, confident, and ready to shape the future. And Data Detectives give them the perfect space to develop these problem-solving skills while learning about essential technologies.
Seeing them work through challenges was a powerful reminder for us all: kids are the problem solvers of tomorrow, and they’re already starting today! As grownups, our role is to nurture that curiosity, and provide them with the tools and encouragement they need.
We’ve witnessed a wave of transformation in technology and consulting driven by AI, and many companies are still gearing up to navigate its impact. In the midst of this change, we have so much to learn from the kids, their openness, curiosity, and willingness to jump into the unknown, exploring possibilities and embracing innovation. (We grownups better keep up!)
Join us, won’t you?
We’re incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved through the Data Detectives program. But what makes us even prouder is showing how corporations and libraries can come together to promote data literacy, build community, and make education accessible to all.
With initiatives like Data Detectives, we not only highlight the importance of data skills for youth, but we also shine a light on the important role that local libraries, like the Brownsburg Public Library, play in supporting our communities.
We’re sharing our story here because we hope it will inspire other families to tap into the incredible resources available at their local libraries and encourage more organizations to launch similar programs.
Together, we can empower the next generation of data detectives, and who knows? Maybe they’ll be the ones solving the world’s next big challenges!
