Complex Problem Solving and Imperfect Solutions
SMU Partnership
Last year, Hockaday developed a new partnership with the Data Science Department at Southern Methodist University (SMU).
The partnership, which will expand this year, is twofold: the school is working with SMU to collect data related to purpose, advocacy, and empathy building in students by utilizing feedback from students and teachers, Social Impact program participation, and other additional data points. Hockaday will continue to track this data to see how coursework and co-curricular activities impact students’ ability to develop these essential skills.
“For so long, I have heard anecdotal evidence that we are moving the needle on the Institute for Social Impact’s key outcomes–building empathy, advocacy skills, real-world experiences, exploring purpose, and designing solutions,” said Laura Day, Director of Innovation and Collaboration. “This data allows us to demonstrate that we are instilling students with skills that are in high demand as they graduate.”
The second part of this partnership with SMU aims to build creative and analytical thinkers who are proficient in the basics of data science. As part of this new programming, Hockaday’s AP Computer Science classes, which currently learn Java, are also learning to code in Python. In addition, our Upper School students are teaching an introduction to programming course to the Middle School Data Science and AI club. Students in both divisions will come out of the program with a microcredential from SMU in data science.
Hockaday is working with Dr. Bivin Sadler, professor of Data Science at SMU, who is teaching Python to our students. He is also the founder of the Data Science Scholars Program at AT&T, which gives students the opportunity for an eight-week internship in data science at AT&T. Dr. Sadler wants to expand the program into high schools, and Hockaday will be the first school to partner with AT&T and SMU in this way. Hockaday students will visit AT&T’s headquarters after receiving coaching sessions from AT&T data scientists this spring and will have access to summer internship opportunities in the future.
“It’s key to expose girls to these fields early, so as the world changes, they are a part of the change,” said Ms. Day. “If you understand how AI is built, and how data is used in the world, you will have a huge leg up.”
The Hockaday School
Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.