From SQL Struggles to Visual Insights: Revealing Transformations for Data Science Education

Despite data’s pervasive role in modern society and the growing em-
phasis on K-12 data literacy, students struggle with core data trans-
formations. SQL—curricular centerpiece despite known limitations—
motivates our design of an educational relational programming lan-
guage that natively streamlines visualization pipelines and thereby
offers visual feedback on data transformations. Through this ap-
proach, we aim to foster more accurate mental models of how
data transformations relate to visualizations, enabling learners to
better make sense of data. We will evaluate this work using design-
based research methods.