---
# System prepended metadata

title: Data Bingo
tags: [method, datascape toolkit, toolkit]

---

# Data Bingo

![](https://parcos-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/data-bingo-1.jpg =350x300)
Data Bingo being used before a datascape game. This example shows data icons printed as labels and stuck onto small wooden discs.

Summary
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**Background of method**: Bingo is a game of chance played with cards having differently numbered squares corresponding to numbered balls drawn at random. The game is won when a player matches all their numbers to those drawn. It can also be played with symbols or words. Bingo has been used in educational contexts to help to familiarise people to a topic or test their learning. Data bingo is therefore for familiarising people with data types, specifically those used in the DataScape game.

**Why to use it**: the DataScape board game requires players to select icons representing different types of data. Playing data bingo before playing the datascape game gives a possibility to discuss a bit more about the different types of data, how they are collected and how they might be used

**When to use it**: either before playing DataScape or it could also be used in other co-creation activities with these data types, to initiate conversations about the data.

# **Playing Data Bingo**

**Overview**
* Time:  10-15 minutes
* Purpose: to learn about different data types
* Participants: general public and especially youth -  no data expertise required
* Difficulty for facilitators: 1 star
* Difficulty for participants: 2 stars 
* Materials you'll need: **1.** bingo sheets **2.** data icons **3.** a bag or box **4.** data information cards


Description
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There is 1 caller (usually the session facilitator) and up to 30 players. There can be fewer players and players might also play in small teams. The caller and each player has 1 complete set of data icons and one data instruction sheet. Each player has a bingo card, whilst the caller has a card where they can mark - if needed - which data has been drawn. The caller keeps their icons in a small bag or container from where they can be drawn at random. 

The caller selects 1 data icon and reads it out to the players. Each player checks whether the data type appears on their card. If it does, they place the corresponding data icon on the square. The first player to fill their bingo card is the winner.

Optionally, the caller can tell a little bit more about the data, or ask players to relate what they already know about the data type that was picked.


Preparation
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1. Download and print the bingo pack from [here](https://parcos-project.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Bingo-pack.zip).  
2. Cut the cards and icons to shape or alternatively use a label template and sticky labels with wooden counters to stick them to. 
3. Replicate according to the number of sets of opponents there will be.

Running a session
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**Steps**
1. Give each player a bingo card, data icons and instructions. Explain the rules of the game.
2. Draw a data icon from the bag and read it out. Give the players time to find their icon and place it onto their sheet.
3. Optionally, lead a discussion about the data type.
4. Continue drawing data types until someone shouts BINGO!

**How to document**
Videos and photos 

**Method originators:** Annika Wolff


**Further Reading**
Seah, E.T.W., Kaufman, D., Sauvé, L. and Zhang, F., 2018. [Play, Learn, Connect: older adults' experience with a multiplayer, educational, digital Bingo game](https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Fan-Zhang-150/publication/319064101_Play_Learn_Connect_Older_Adults'_Experience_With_a_Multiplayer_Educational_Digital_Bingo_Game/links/5b5b39eaa6fdccf0b2fa7510/Play-Learn-Connect-Older-Adults-Experience-With-a-Multiplayer-Educational-Digital-Bingo-Game.pdf?_sg%5B0%5D=started_experiment_milestone&origin=journalDetail). Journal of Educational Computing Research, 56(5), pp.675-700.

###### tags: `datascape toolkit` `toolkit`  `method`
