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Dataquest Experience
Description
As a believer in continual Learning, I have decided to enrol onto a course that specialises in teaching data science in python! I was unable to find a structured course specific for data science that went into as much detail as DataQuest. The majority of the data science community tend to use the R programming language. I don't mind R, however it's nowhere near as versatile as Python in applications other than Data Science, hence why I chose to invest in this course. I've learnt SO much and this is where I share the most interesting snippets from the course.
The Detail
As an avid believer in continual learning in whatever it is you do, I embarked on a program that focussed on the application of python in Data Science. I knew I wanted to learn even more than I did in data science, however, I chose python as the language to do it. This way I was able to expand and solidify my knowledge in the field as well as develop a skill that I was fond of.
Dataquest is a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform that focuses specifically on data analytics in python. They currently have 2 tracks that are tailored to specific career paths. These are the “Data Scientist” track and the “Data Analyst” Track. They are also developing a “Data Engineer” track. These tracks have classes that are tailored to the skills required in order to become a “Data Scientist” or a “Data Analyst” and sometimes these fields overlap. The “Data Scientist” track covers a lot more concepts that the “Data Analyst” track. Such include statistics, machine learning and advanced topics in Computer Science. I think it’s pretty obvious I went for the more challenging “Data Scientist” track.
The courses are structured in a way that you read the content relating to the topic and code the instructions that they give you. You are actively coding into their embedded interpreter and submitting the code to then see if your code is doing the right thing. If you are not, it returns an error and with a short explanation as to what is wrong. If your error is that of a syntactical nature, then you will be returned python’s built in error response. I can appreciate this approach as it takes on the idea of “Learning by doing” which is always the best way to learn, through actively coding and reading through the methodology. This also enables you to see how real algorithms are “translated” into code as you go along. This will equip you with the ability to understand python and how you can harness the technology to answer any questions you have.
It’s great that this platform enables you to learn as you code, but what is also very useful is the use of wide varying datasets. You work with actual data to complete what they label as “Missions”. Every course you go through is labelled as a “Mission”, adhering to the theme of going on a “Quest”! Pretty clever and a nice way to help people ease into each of the classes. This goal orientated approach makes it easier to track your progress. I am a fan of this approach as I am a very goal-oriented person.
From the classes that I have sat in so far, I have enjoyed refreshing my knowledge in statistics and its applications, and the Machine learning courses. I have really enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the python language as I continue to learn.
Overall, I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the course so far and look forward to learning new things to come. I can tell that the service will improve as I have left feedback after missions and have seen the changes implemented. I have also seen the site develop as I have been learning. I recently received a google-hangout invitation from the founder, Vik, and we had a chat about my experience with the site, how it can improve, and my general thought processes whilst going through missions. This shows that they are very user focussed by engaging with their user-base as a means for improving the site. I think that’s awesome! I gave Vik my feedback, of which he was very receptive, and I look forward to seeing the changes that he makes to the site following his interviews with other users.
I would definitely recommend Dataquest to anybody that is looking to learn more about data analysis or data science with a specific focus on python. A lot of other online courses tend to use R, leaving Dataquest to tap into this untapped market of pythonistas. I have noticed that Coursera is soon to release a data science course specific to the python language. Coursera is a much more recognized body for online learning and this will make things harder for Dataquest to retain and acquire new students. Though they Dataquest does offer a more rounded course looking at other things like, SQL, Command line, Spark, Computer science related subjects and more, though, I believe these are likely to be found on Coursera as a separate courses and may not tie together with python or specifically to data science.
Dataquest is a MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform that focuses specifically on data analytics in python. They currently have 2 tracks that are tailored to specific career paths. These are the “Data Scientist” track and the “Data Analyst” Track. They are also developing a “Data Engineer” track. These tracks have classes that are tailored to the skills required in order to become a “Data Scientist” or a “Data Analyst” and sometimes these fields overlap. The “Data Scientist” track covers a lot more concepts that the “Data Analyst” track. Such include statistics, machine learning and advanced topics in Computer Science. I think it’s pretty obvious I went for the more challenging “Data Scientist” track.
The courses are structured in a way that you read the content relating to the topic and code the instructions that they give you. You are actively coding into their embedded interpreter and submitting the code to then see if your code is doing the right thing. If you are not, it returns an error and with a short explanation as to what is wrong. If your error is that of a syntactical nature, then you will be returned python’s built in error response. I can appreciate this approach as it takes on the idea of “Learning by doing” which is always the best way to learn, through actively coding and reading through the methodology. This also enables you to see how real algorithms are “translated” into code as you go along. This will equip you with the ability to understand python and how you can harness the technology to answer any questions you have.
It’s great that this platform enables you to learn as you code, but what is also very useful is the use of wide varying datasets. You work with actual data to complete what they label as “Missions”. Every course you go through is labelled as a “Mission”, adhering to the theme of going on a “Quest”! Pretty clever and a nice way to help people ease into each of the classes. This goal orientated approach makes it easier to track your progress. I am a fan of this approach as I am a very goal-oriented person.
From the classes that I have sat in so far, I have enjoyed refreshing my knowledge in statistics and its applications, and the Machine learning courses. I have really enjoyed learning the ins and outs of the python language as I continue to learn.
Overall, I can say that I have thoroughly enjoyed the course so far and look forward to learning new things to come. I can tell that the service will improve as I have left feedback after missions and have seen the changes implemented. I have also seen the site develop as I have been learning. I recently received a google-hangout invitation from the founder, Vik, and we had a chat about my experience with the site, how it can improve, and my general thought processes whilst going through missions. This shows that they are very user focussed by engaging with their user-base as a means for improving the site. I think that’s awesome! I gave Vik my feedback, of which he was very receptive, and I look forward to seeing the changes that he makes to the site following his interviews with other users.
I would definitely recommend Dataquest to anybody that is looking to learn more about data analysis or data science with a specific focus on python. A lot of other online courses tend to use R, leaving Dataquest to tap into this untapped market of pythonistas. I have noticed that Coursera is soon to release a data science course specific to the python language. Coursera is a much more recognized body for online learning and this will make things harder for Dataquest to retain and acquire new students. Though they Dataquest does offer a more rounded course looking at other things like, SQL, Command line, Spark, Computer science related subjects and more, though, I believe these are likely to be found on Coursera as a separate courses and may not tie together with python or specifically to data science.
