Training resources

Every link on this page was opened and checked on 2026-10-19. If one has moved, please open an issue.

Understanding open data doesn’t require reading this repo’s technical guides first — BetaNYC and partner organizations run recurring public classes that build the same foundational literacy for a general audience.

Core classes

Introduction to New York Open Data

BetaNYC’s recurring digital literacy class, covering both NYC and NYS open data — what it is, where to find it, and how to start exploring it without a technical background. 90 minutes; bring a laptop. The curriculum was co-created by BetaNYC and the Office of Data Analytics team at the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI).

• About the class: beta.nyc/open-data-classes
• Slides: Class deck (PDF)
• Sign up: upcoming sessions are listed on BetaNYC’s events page

Open Data Ambassadors

A collaboration between NYC Open Data at OTI and BetaNYC. Volunteer ambassadors teach free 90-minute virtual classes on NYC Open Data: what it is, how to frame a question, and how to filter and visualize a dataset on the portal. Monthly public classes, plus an annual train-the-trainer program.

• About the program: beta.nyc/open-data-ambassadors
• Sign up for a class: Attend a Class — NYC Open Data
• Request a custom or in-person class: request form
• Become an ambassador: nyc.gov/teachopendata

AI 101: Empowering New Yorkers in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

BetaNYC’s plain-language class on what AI is, how it works, and how to ask better questions of the systems and providers shaping our communities.

• About the class and materials: beta.nyc/resources/ai-101
• Sign up: BetaNYC’s events page

NYC Open Data Journeys

Virtual sessions that follow one question through NYC Open Data, such as street safety, noise, and housing. Paused for now; past materials are on the page.

• About the sessions: beta.nyc/nyc-opendata-journeys

Annual events

NYC School of Data

BetaNYC’s annual community conference, held each spring during NYC Open Data Week, on open data, civic technology, and service design. Many past sessions are introductions to NYC Open Data.

• Conference site: schoolofdata.nyc
• Past talks: BetaNYC on YouTube

NYC Open Data Week

An annual festival of community-run events, organized by the Office of Data Strategy at the NYC Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), BetaNYC, and Data Through Design. Several events each year are introductory open data classes.

• Festival site: opendataweek.nyc
• Past recordings: Open Data Week archive

Partner programs

Data & Society: AI Civics

Data & Society’s approach to public education and engagement, which treats AI as a domain of civic life where people have rights and ways to act together. BetaNYC presented to its community of practice on 2026-09-18 (the deck).

• About the program: datasociety.net/ai-civics

Going further

• Socrata developer docs (dev.socrata.com) — the technical reference for SoQL, the query language behind both the NYC and NYS portals. Useful once you are building past the beginner level.

A note on scope

This page stays focused on open data and AI literacy. For BetaNYC’s full class catalog, including Mapping for Equity, see beta.nyc/open-data-classes.