The assessment tool is based on “the most essential competencies and traits that indicate whether a student not only has the ability to analyze data, but can parlay it into effective business strategies for growing revenue, preventing risk, deepening customer engagement, and even saving lives,” IBM stated in its announcement.
With every day that passes, another 2.5 quintillion bytes of online information is created.
This data can be used to find patterns in student learning, track consumer trends, and help doctors better diagnose patients, Spohrer said. The explosion of information created through this increasing amount of digital interactions has led to what some experts refer to as a “Big Data skills gap.”
To help close the gap, IBM has partnered with more than 1,000 universities as part of a Big Data initiative that provides learning materials, guest lectures from IBM experts, and analytics software.
The assessment tool will at first be available to some of these universities, including George Washington University, Northwestern University, and The Ohio State University.
“It’s really a quick task that allows students and universities to understand their readiness,” Spohrer said. “We see it as a compliment to existing assessments that will hopefully get more people excited about this area and recognize their strengths and weaknesses.
Follow Jake New on Twitter at @eCN_Jake, and join the conversation with #eCNBigData.
- What does higher-ed look like in 2023? - January 5, 2015
- Are ed-tech startups a bubble that’s ready to burst? - January 1, 2015
- Are MOOCs really dead? - August 28, 2014