Teaching Practical Data Science

Abstract Number:

2015 

Submission Type:

Contributed Abstract 

Contributed Abstract Type:

Speed 

Participants:

Vik Gopal (1), Sergio Hernandez-Marin (1)

Institutions:

(1) National University of Singapore, Singapore

Co-Author:

Sergio Hernandez-Marin  
National University of Singapore

First Author:

Vik Gopal  
National University of Singapore

Presenting Author:

Vik Gopal  
N/A

Abstract Text:

While there has been considerable work on guiding educators on how to structure a course in data science for imparting technical knowledge (e.g. Hicks and Irizarry (2018)), we argue, based on employer feedback and industry relations, that a larger part of the curriculum needs to be devoted to problem formulation, deployment, solution design, model monitoring and communication of results. Emphasising these practical aspects imposes new requirements on the instructor and the coordinating department. An example of the demand on the instructors is the breadth of knowledge they are required to know. The department, on the other hand, needs a steady stream of case studies for students to work on; this is exacerbated by increasing class sizes. In this talk we present our observations and thoughts on these challenges, based on our experience of teaching these topics over 4 semesters to approximately more than 400 students (and growing).

1. Hicks, Stephanie C., and Rafael A. Irizarry. "A guide to teaching data science." The American Statistician 72, no. 4 (2018): 382

Keywords:

data science|practice|end-to-end|teaching|curriculum|syllabus

Sponsors:

Section on Statistics and Data Science Education

Tracks:

Miscellaneous

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