Part 4 – Career Connections – From the Court to Your Future (Student Co-taught – Grades 5-12)

Did you know that the same data skills used to analyze basketball performance are also used by scientists, engineers, business leaders, healthcare professionals, and AI experts? Students will explore how data powers decision-making in the real world and discover exciting career pathways that rely on data literacy, critical thinking, and problem-solving. 
Through interactive activities and real-world examples, students will investigate how professionals use data to solve challenges, improve outcomes, and make informed decisions. Using basketball analytics as a starting point, participants will connect the skills they have developed throughout the Data Dunkers program to careers in sports, technology, business, healthcare, engineering, and beyond. 
Students will also reflect on their own interests and strengths while exploring how data can help them pursue future opportunities in a rapidly evolving digital world. 
During this workshop, students will: 

• Explore careers that use data and analytics to solve real-world problems. 

• Discover how organizations use data to make informed decisions. 

• Investigate the role of data in sports, technology, healthcare, business, and artificial intelligence. 

• Connect their Data Dunkers experiences to future academic and career pathways. 

• Analyze real-world case studies involving data-driven decision-making. 

• Reflect on their own interests and identify careers that align with their skills and passions. 

 
By the end of the session, students will understand how the skills they developed throughout the Data Dunkers program—collecting data, analyzing information, identifying patterns, communicating insights, and making evidence-based decisions—translate directly to a wide range of exciting careers. They will leave with a clearer understanding of how data can help shape their future and the confidence to explore new opportunities in an increasingly data-driven world. 

Note: This session will follow Module 5: Career Connections from the Canvas Course.