What you’ll learn
CONFIDENCE when working with data
Awareness of how data impacts humans lives
Awareness of what data governance is and why it matters
Understanding of how data moves through systems
Ability to recognize high quality data
….and much more….
No prior technical data experience is required.
If you're a beginner, you're in the right place.
If you're a data whiz, you'll learn new ways to communicate about what you know in ways anyone can understand!
When it’s happening
Start Date: January 13, 2027
End Date: August 11, 2027
Time: Wednesdays, 11:00 am - 12:00 pm
Session content
Session 1: January 13, 2027
TITLE: Every Story Has a Beginning
TOPIC: Data Creation and Context (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Build foundational data literacy by examining how data is generated, labeled, and contextualized at the point of entry, and how early decisions affect downstream accuracy, trust, and reuse.
Session 2: February 10, 2027
TITLE: Cleaning Up the Mess
TOPIC: Data Quality and Preparation (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners explore core data quality and data preparation concepts, including normalization, error handling, metadata, and assumptions embedded in cleaning processes and how these directly influence analytics and AI outcomes.
Session 3: March 10, 2027
TITLE: Playing by the Rules
TOPIC: Data Governance and Business Logic (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners are introduced to governance literacy, showing how rules, constraints, and decision logic enforce consistency, compliance, and organizational standards across data flows.
Session 4: April 14, 2027
TITLE: Practice Makes Patterns
TOPIC: Data Patterns, Analytics, and AI Behavior (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners develop analytical data literacy, understanding how aggregation, trends, bias, and scale influence system behavior and why “more data” doesn’t always mean “better decisions.”
Session 5: May 12, 2027
TITLE: It Takes Two to Tango
TOPIC: Data Integration and Interoperability (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners focus on data interoperability and integration literacy, examining the concepts of formats, schemas, APIs, and handoffs that determine whether data remains usable, trustworthy, and aligned across tools.
Session 6: June 9, 2027
TITLE: A Place for Everything
TOPIC: Data Storage, Lifecycle, and Retention (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners are introduced to the data lifecycle management, including retention policies, access controls, institutional memory, and the risks of unmanaged or forgotten data.
Session 7: July 14, 2027
TITLE: Under Lock and Key
TOPIC: Data Security (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners reinforce data security and governance fundamentals, including access control, data classification, risk, and responsible data use in AI-enabled environments.
Session 8: August 11, 2027
TITLE: All Roads Lead Somewhere
TOPIC: Data Infrastructure and Networks (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners develop a working understanding of how physical and virtual systems enable data to move, be accessed, and remain reliable.
Session 9: September 8, 2027
TITLE: Seeing the Forest AND the Trees
TOPIC: Data Literacy and Systems Thinking (Don't worry! We use non-technical language to introduce technical concepts.)
DESCRIPTION: Learners synthesize data literacy, governance awareness, and system thinking to quickly assess unfamiliar tools, workflows, and AI-enabled platforms.
What it costs
$270/person
Note: If you are sending more than 24 people to the cohort from your organization, you may be eligible for discounted pricing.
What it includes
9 live-virtual sessions
Access to session recordings through December 31, 2027
Session badges
Completion certification
How to buy
Purchase directly on this site at the site store, or procure through the Statewide Internet Portal Authority (SIPA). Contact Duane Tucker at duane@cosipa.gov, and he will get you enrolled!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Getting started is simple. Register directly on this site through the site store or through SIPA. For SIPA, contact Duane Tucker at duane@cosipa.gov, and he will get you enrolled!
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Our approach to data and AI training is unique in several different ways:
We are non-technical in our language and delivery, making complex concepts simple and easy to understand for all audiences
We tailor our examples to fit public sector
We are NOT a “check the box” training. We are a human-centered training that is committed to helping people navigate this unique technology both personally and professionally.
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You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email at team@theideagarden.fun.