Proficient handling of data is a skill gaining importance with the increasing amount and availability of data. Therefore, promoting data literacy should begin in everyday school life. The foundation for this is formed by competence models for data literacy, which include the sub-skill of data collection that has so far been inadequately considered in K-12 education. This study investigates the relevance of data collection through pedagogical intervention research with learners aged 14 to 17 years. The evaluation highlights the benefits of personal data collection--data collection in one's own environment and in virtual reality--as part of a holistic approach to teaching data literacy. This work extends existing approaches regarding the importance of data collected by students for their own use through sensors for a reflective and critical understanding of data.