Given that our global society now relies on vast quantities of data for nearly all aspects of its functioning, the general lack of preparation of students for working with data is a grave and growing concern. Mathematics educators, with their wealth of experience in quantitative thinking, bear special responsibility in helping to formulate and bring about the changes required to produce a data literate citizenry. In this discussion group we hope to understand the range of approaches to the situation in various countries, to arrive at some level of consensus on the proper role of mathematics educators in helping to solve the problem, and to formulate a strategy for mobilizing those who wish to work together on a solution.

The following three broad areas frame the territory of the discussion. These will be posted on the DG website and it is anticipated that they will evolve and/or be added to over the period leading up to ICME-12.

• What strengths do mathematics educators bring to bear on the problem? Conversely, with what aspects of the problem are mathematics educators unlikely to bring expertise?
• What complementary roles can statistics educators and mathematics educators play in relation to improving data literacy?
• What world-wide trends in the role of mathematics education in this area can we discover?
• What should be the role of mathematics education in helping to produce a data literate society?
• What steps should we propose be taken toward solution of the problem that are of special relevance to mathematics educators?