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Big Data Fundamentals

A Cloud Guru

If you're completely new to big data and aren't quite sure what it is, why it's necessary, and how it works, then this is the course for you! We are going to clarify what big data is (and _isn't_), while also defining some other related terms around data characterization and analysis methods. Then, we talk about some architectural problems with big data and how we solve them with cluster computing, distributed storage, and cluster management. Lastly, we will cover some of the popular technologies and illustrate how big data is used in the real world to hopefully shine a light on how big data is already impacting your daily life — whether you realize it or not. Let's get started!

This course is no longer available. Find something similar by browsing:
Big Data Data Analysis Data Science Machine Learning Artificial Intelligence Cloud Computing Data Engineering

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Reviews summary

Clear foundation for big data beginners

According to students, this course offers a remarkably clear and approachable introduction to Big Data concepts, making it ideal for absolute beginners. Learners consistently praise the instructor's engaging style and ability to simplify complex topics, ensuring a strong foundational understanding of what Big Data is and its architectural challenges. While a majority of reviewers find it highly beneficial for conceptual understanding and for those seeking a high-level overview, some more recent feedback notes that certain sections, particularly those covering specific technologies, may feel somewhat outdated. Additionally, a minority of learners desired more practical, hands-on application and less theory, suggesting it's best for conceptual learning rather than deep technical skill acquisition.
Perfect for absolute novices and those with zero prior knowledge of big data.
"This course truly sets you up for further learning. Highly recommend it for absolute beginners."
"Perfect for absolute beginners! The instructor is fantastic and breaks down intimidating topics..."
"I had zero prior knowledge and now I feel I have a good grasp. This course is an excellent starting point."
Complex Big Data concepts are broken down into digestible and easy-to-understand parts.
"The explanations are incredibly clear and the instructor breaks down complex topics into digestible parts."
"Absolutely loved the instructor's engaging style and ability to simplify complex ideas. The analogies used were excellent."
"It made big data feel approachable and understandable. The instructor's passion shines through, making learning enjoyable."
Provides conceptual understanding, but lacks hands-on technical skill development.
"I found this course too theoretical and lacking practical application... Not suitable for aspiring data engineers."
"It's an okay start for understanding the basics, but many of the 'popular technologies' mentioned are presented very superficially."
"If you're hoping for practical coding or setup guides, look elsewhere. It definitely sets the stage, but doesn't provide tools for performance."
Some technologies and examples in the course may not reflect current industry standards.
"The content is mostly good for a beginner, but I noticed some sections discussing older versions of tools..."
"This course is severely outdated. Many of the tools and examples shown, particularly those related to Hadoop ecosystem, are no longer current."
"While the instructor is clearly knowledgeable, the course content needs a significant refresh. It gives a historical perspective more than a current one."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Big Data Fundamentals with these activities:
Explore online tutorials and resources on big data concepts
Familiarize yourself with the fundamental principles of big data and explore practical applications through guided online tutorials.
Browse courses on Big Data
Show steps
  • Search and identify reputable online tutorials that cover the basics of big data.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step, taking notes and experimenting with the concepts provided.
  • Explore additional resources such as articles, videos, and industry blogs to broaden your understanding.
Review basic probability and statistics
Reinforce your foundational understanding of probability and statistics to better grasp the more advanced concepts taught in this course.
Browse courses on Probability
Show steps
  • Review probability concepts such as distributions, random variables, and Bayes' theorem.
  • Practice solving probability problems involving real-world scenarios.
  • Review descriptive statistics, including measures of central tendency and dispersion.
  • Practice performing statistical hypothesis testing.
Read "Big Data Analytics: From Strategic Planning to Enterprise Integration" by Bart Baesens
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the big data analytics landscape, from strategic planning to enterprise integration, by delving into this insightful book.
View Principles of Database Management: The... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Acquire a copy of the book and set aside dedicated time for reading.
  • Read each chapter thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting key concepts.
  • Complete the end-of-chapter exercises to reinforce your understanding.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Connect with professionals in the big data field
Build connections with experienced professionals who can provide guidance and insights into the big data industry.
Browse courses on Big Data
Show steps
  • Attend industry events, conferences, and meetups related to big data.
  • Reach out to professionals on LinkedIn and other professional networking platforms.
  • Seek mentorship opportunities through university programs or online platforms.
Follow a step-by-step tutorial on how to set up a Hadoop cluster
Gain practical experience and build confidence by implementing a Hadoop cluster in a guided setting. This provides hands-on application of the concepts covered in the course.
Show steps
  • Identify an appropriate online tutorial for setting up a Hadoop cluster.
  • Gather the necessary resources and follow the steps outlined in the tutorial.
  • Test the functionality of your Hadoop cluster.
Solve practice problems on big data techniques
Sharpen your skills in applying big data techniques by solving practice problems that simulate real-world scenarios.
Browse courses on Big Data Technologies
Show steps
  • Identify websites or textbooks that offer practice problems on big data analysis.
  • Select problems that align with the topics covered in this course.
  • Solve the problems using appropriate big data tools and techniques.
  • Review your solutions and identify areas for improvement.
Attend a workshop or conference on big data technologies and applications
Gain exposure to cutting-edge big data technologies and applications by attending industry workshops or conferences.
Browse courses on Big Data
Show steps
  • Research and identify upcoming workshops or conferences related to big data.
  • Register and attend the event, actively participating in sessions and networking with professionals.
  • Take detailed notes and follow up with speakers and attendees after the event.
Develop a presentation on a specific big data application
Enhance your understanding of practical big data applications by researching and creating a presentation that showcases a specific use case.
Browse courses on Big Data Applications
Show steps
  • Identify a specific industry or domain where big data is being applied.
  • Research successful big data projects and case studies within the chosen domain.
  • Develop a presentation that explains the problem addressed, the big data solution implemented, and the results achieved.
  • Practice delivering the presentation to receive feedback.
Contribute to open-source big data projects on GitHub
Gain hands-on experience and contribute to the big data community by participating in open-source projects on GitHub.
Browse courses on Big Data
Show steps
  • Identify open-source big data projects on GitHub that align with your interests.
  • Review the project documentation and identify areas where you can contribute.
  • Submit pull requests with your contributions and actively engage in discussions.

Career center

Learners who complete Big Data Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Database Administrator
A Database Administrator creates, maintains, and troubleshoots databases. This course covers the architectural problems of big data and how they're solved, which can help build a foundation for an individual interested in a career as a Database Administrator.
See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator
Data Architect
A Data Architect designs and manages data systems. This course covers the architectural problems of big data and how they're solved, which may be useful for individuals pursuing a career as a Data Architect.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect
Data Engineer
A Data Engineer creates, deploys, and maintains data pipelines. This course covers the technologies and methods used in big data, which may be useful for an individual pursuing a career as a Data Engineer.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer
Financial Analyst
A Financial Analyst analyzes financial data to make investment recommendations. This course provides foundational knowledge of big data that may be helpful for individuals pursuing a career as a Financial Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Data Scientist
A Data Scientist uses data to create models and insights that can be used to solve problems. This course provides a foundational understanding of big data, which may be helpful for an individual interested in a career as a Data Scientist.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist
Quantitative Analyst
A Quantitative Analyst uses mathematical and statistical models to help make investment decisions. This course provides foundational knowledge of big data that may be helpful for individuals pursuing a career as a Quantitative Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst
Business Analyst
A Business Analyst analyzes business needs and recommends solutions to improve efficiency. This course provides foundational knowledge of big data that may be helpful for individuals pursuing a career as a Business Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst
Actuary
An Actuary uses mathematical and statistical models to assess risk and make financial decisions. This course provides foundational knowledge of big data that may be helpful for individuals pursuing a career as an Actuary.
See salaries and explore the career path for Actuary
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst identifies client needs, analyzes data, and provides insights to support decision making. To succeed as a Data Analyst, one must be able to interpret different types of data and use tools like statistics and machine learning. This course provides foundational knowledge of big data that may be helpful for individuals pursuing a career as a Data Analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Information Security Analyst
An Information Security Analyst plans and implements security measures to protect an organization's data. While this course does not cover information security itself, it does cover some of the foundational concepts of big data, which may be useful for an Information Security Analyst to have.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst
Research Scientist
A Research Scientist conducts research in a specific field. While this course does not cover research itself, it does provide foundational knowledge of big data, which may be useful for a Research Scientist in any field that involves big data.
See salaries and explore the career path for Research Scientist
Systems Analyst
A Systems Analyst studies how a system works, often to help improve it. While this course does not cover systems analysis itself, it does cover some of the foundational concepts of big data, which may be useful for a Systems Analyst to have.
See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst
Machine Learning Engineer
A Machine Learning Engineer designs, develops, and maintains machine learning models. While this course does not cover machine learning itself, it does cover some of the foundational concepts of big data, which may be useful for a Machine Learning Engineer to have.
See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer
Statistician
A Statistician collects, analyzes, interprets, and presents data. While this course does not cover statistics itself, it does cover some of the foundational concepts of big data, which may be useful for a Statistician to have.
See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician
Software Engineer
A Software Engineer designs, develops, and maintains software applications. While this course does not cover software engineering itself, it does cover some of the foundational concepts of big data, which may be useful for a Software Engineer to have.
See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Reading list

We've selected seven books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Big Data Fundamentals.
Cover image
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide
Save
Is the definitive guide to Hadoop, the open-source framework for storing and processing big data. It must-read for anyone who wants to learn how to use Hadoop.
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide: Storage and Analysis...
Paperback
$$
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide
Kindle Edition
$$
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide
Paperback
$$
Hadoop: The Definitive Guide
Paperback
$$
Cover image
Guardrails
Save
Provides a concise overview of big data, its history, and its potential impact on society. It great starting point for anyone who wants to learn more about big data.
Guardrails: Guiding Human Decisions in the Age of AI
Hardcover
$$
Guardrails: Guiding Human Decisions in the Age of AI
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Deep Learning
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to deep learning for big data. It covers the latest deep learning algorithms and techniques that can be used to analyze big data.
Deep Learning (Adaptive Computation and Machine...
Hardcover
$$$
Deep Learning (Adaptive Computation and Machine...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Principles of Database Management
Save
Provides a practical approach to big data analytics. It covers the latest big data analytics techniques and tools that can be used to analyze big data.
Principles of Database Management: The Practical...
Hardcover
$$$
Principles of Database Management: The Practical...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Artificial Intelligence in Practice
Save
Provides a collection of case studies on how 45 successful companies used big data analytics to deliver extraordinary results. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use big data to improve their business.
Generative AI in Practice: 100+ Amazing Ways...
Hardcover
$$
Artificial Intelligence in Practice: How 50...
Hardcover
$$
Cover image
Data Science for Business
Save
Provides a practical introduction to data science and its applications in business. It great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to use data to make better decisions.
Data Science for Business: What You Need to Know...
Paperback
$$
Data Science for Business: What You Need to Know...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Machine Learning with Spark and Python
Save
Provides a practical introduction to machine learning for big data. It covers a variety of machine learning algorithms and techniques that can be used to analyze big data.
Machine Learning with Spark and Python: Essential...
Paperback
$$
(中文) Spark and Python Machine Learning in Action: Core...
Paperback
$$
Machine Learning with Spark and Python: Essential...
Kindle Edition
$$

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A Cloud Guru
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
If this course teaches skills, knowledge, and/or tools that are highly relevant to industry
If this course builds a strong foundation for beginners
This course is taught by a recognized authority in the field of
If this course develops professional skills or deep expertise in a particular topic or set of topics
If this course covers unique perspectives are ideas that may add color to other topics and subjects
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