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The Data Scientist’s Toolbox

Roger D. Peng, PhD, Jeff Leek, PhD, and Brian Caffo, PhD

In this course you will get an introduction to the main tools and ideas in the data scientist's toolbox. The course gives an overview of the data, questions, and tools that data analysts and data scientists work with. There are two components to this course. The first is a conceptual introduction to the ideas behind turning data into actionable knowledge. The second is a practical introduction to the tools that will be used in the program like version control, markdown, git, GitHub, R, and RStudio.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Data Science Fundamentals

In this module, we'll introduce and define data science and data itself. We'll also go over some of the resources that data scientists use to get help when they're stuck.

R and RStudio

In this module, we'll help you get up and running with both R and RStudio. Along the way, you'll learn some basics about both and why data scientists use them.

Version Control and GitHub

During this module, you'll learn about version control and why it's so important to data scientists. You'll also learn how to use Git and GitHub to manage version control in data science projects.

R Markdown, Scientific Thinking, and Big Data

During this final module, you'll learn to use R Markdown and get an introduction to three concepts that are incredibly important to every successful data scientist: asking good questions, experimental design, and big data.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Develops skills used for answering questions with data

Strong team of experienced instructors that are highly recognized for their work

Teaches essential tools and concepts for managing data science projects

Introduces core skills and ideas for working with data and turning it into actionable knowledge

Builds foundational knowledge for beginners and strengthens existing knowledge for intermediate learners

Covers version control using Git and GitHub, which are essential tools for data scientists

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Reviews summary

Data science toolset

The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course offered by Johns Hopkins University on Coursera is suitable for beginners and serves as an introduction to the basics of data science and its applications. It includes hands-on practice with essential tools such as R, RStudio, Git, and GitHub. Learners appreciate the well-organized content, practical exercises, and step-by-step instructions. However, they also note that some of the material can be outdated, and the automated voiceovers used in video lectures can be monotonous and distracting.

The course is designed for beginners, with no prior knowledge of data science or programming required. It starts with the basics and gradually introduces more advanced concepts.

"The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course offered by Johns Hopkins University on Coursera is suitable for beginners and serves as an introduction to the basics of data science and its applications."

"It starts with the basics and gradually introduces more advanced concepts."

The course provides ample opportunities for hands-on practice with R, RStudio, Git, and GitHub, allowing learners to apply the concepts they learn and build practical skills.

"It includes hands-on practice with essential tools such as R, RStudio, Git, and GitHub."

"Learners appreciate the well-organized content, practical exercises, and step-by-step instructions."

The course uses automated voiceovers for video lectures, which some learners find monotonous and distracting. This can make it difficult to stay engaged and focused on the material.

"However, they also note that some of the material can be outdated, and the automated voiceovers used in video lectures can be monotonous and distracting."

Some learners have noted that some of the material in the course is outdated, which can be frustrating for those who are new to the field and rely on accurate information.

"However, they also note that some of the material can be outdated, and the automated voiceovers used in video lectures can be monotonous and distracting."

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 The Data Scientist’s Toolbox with these activities:

Review basic probability

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This course builds on concepts and skills from probability theory, so review some of the basic terminology and properties of probabilities to prepare for this course.

Browse courses on Probability

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Consult your notes from a previous statistics or probability course.
Review the definition of probability and commonly used notations.
Go over basic probability distributions and their properties.

Complete a GitHub tutorial

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Git is an essential tool for data scientists. Complete a GitHub tutorial to become familiar with its basics, which are necessary for this course.

Browse courses on Version Control

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Choose an online tutorial that introduces Git and GitHub.
Follow the tutorial steps to create a GitHub account, set up a repository, and commit changes.

Practice data visualization drills

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This course requires a strong foundation in data visualization and analysis. Practice these skills through drills to ensure better preparedness for the course.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Choose a dataset and create different types of visualizations.
Analyze the visualizations and write a brief narrative to explain the insights.

Five other activities

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Show all eight activities

Review a book on data science

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Reinforce your understanding of data science concepts and gain insights by reading and critically reviewing a book on the topic.

View Data Science for Business: What You Need to... on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
Write a summary of the book's main arguments and insights.

Join a study group

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Find a study group to connect with peers in this course. Discuss course materials and support each other's learning.

Browse courses on Networking

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Post on forums or use social media channels to search for a study group.
Attend group meetings and actively participate in discussions.

Create a data dictionary

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To improve your understanding of data cleaning and analysis concepts, create a data dictionary for a given dataset.

Browse courses on Data Cleaning

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Choose a dataset and familiarize yourself with its structure.
Identify the variables, their types, and their descriptions.
Create a comprehensive data dictionary document.

Start a data analysis project

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Apply the concepts and skills learned in this course by starting a data analysis project. This will allow you to practically implement what you're learning.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Define the project's goals and objectives.
Collect and clean the necessary data.
Explore the data and identify patterns.
Develop and implement a data analysis model.
Evaluate the model's performance.

Create a data analysis tutorial

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Create a tutorial that teaches a specific data analysis technique. This will reinforce your understanding of the concept and also potentially help others.

Browse courses on Data Analysis

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Choose a data analysis technique to focus on.
Create a step-by-step guide on how to apply the technique.
Include examples and code snippets to illustrate the concepts.

Career center

Learners who complete The Data Scientist’s Toolbox will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use scientific methods, processes, algorithms, and systems to extract knowledge and insights from data in various forms, both structured and unstructured. The The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will introduce you to the core concepts and tools of data science, including data wrangling, data visualization, and statistical modeling. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as a Data Scientist.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers design, build, and maintain machine learning models. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will introduce you to the core concepts and tools of machine learning, including data wrangling, data visualization, and statistical modeling. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as a Machine Learning Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Architect

Data Architects design and implement data management solutions. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will introduce you to the core concepts and tools of data architecture, including data modeling, data integration, and data governance. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as a Data Architect.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Architect

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain the infrastructure that stores and processes data. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will introduce you to the core concepts and tools of data engineering, including data wrangling, data warehousing, and data mining. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as a Data Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Big Data Engineer

Big Data Engineers design, build, and maintain big data systems. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will introduce you to the core concepts and tools of big data, including data wrangling, data mining, and machine learning. This course will help you develop the skills and knowledge you need to pursue a career as a Big Data Engineer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Big Data Engineer

Statistician

Statisticians collect, analyze, and interpret data. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the skills you need to pursue a career as a Statistician. You will learn how to collect and analyze data. You will also learn how to interpret data and draw conclusions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistician

Statistical Analyst

In this role, you will use data to make decisions that can improve your organization's bottom line or performance. The skills you will learn in this course will help you understand how to analyze and visualize data. You will learn how to write code that can be used to automate tasks and build dashboards. You can use these skills to find trends and patterns in data, and to make predictions about the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Statistical Analyst

Quantitative Analyst

Quantitative Analysts leverage data to determine whether investments should be bought or sold. This role builds mathematical and statistical models based on past data. The skills gained in this course will help you to develop a strong foundation in data analysis and visualization. You will learn how to write code that can be used to automate tasks and build dashboards. You can use these skills to find trends and patterns in data, and to make predictions about the future.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quantitative Analyst

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use mathematical and statistical techniques to solve business problems. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the skills you need to pursue a career as an Operations Research Analyst. You will learn how to identify and define business problems. You will also learn how to develop and implement mathematical and statistical models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Business Analyst

In this role, you will use data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business processes. This course will help you develop the skills needed to gather, analyze, and interpret data. You will learn how to use statistical techniques to identify trends and patterns. You will also learn how to write reports and presentations that communicate your findings to decision-makers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

This role involves collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to uncover patterns and trends. The skills you'll learn in this course will give you a strong foundation in data analysis and visualization. You'll learn how to write code that can be used to automate tasks and build dashboards. You'll also learn how to communicate your findings to stakeholders.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts protect computer systems and networks from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the skills you need to pursue a career as an Information Security Analyst. You will learn how to identify and assess security risks. You will also learn how to implement and manage security measures.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Database Administrator

Database Administrators design, implement, and maintain databases. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the skills you need to pursue a career as a Database Administrator. You will learn how to design and implement database schemas. You will also learn how to manage and troubleshoot databases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Systems Analyst

Systems Analysts design, develop, and implement computer systems. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the problem-solving and analytical skills you need to pursue a career as a Systems Analyst. You will learn how to identify and define system requirements. You will also learn how to design and implement system solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Systems Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. The Data Scientist’s Toolbox course will help you develop the programming skills you need to pursue a career as a Software Engineer. You will learn how to write code that is efficient, reliable, and maintainable. You will also learn how to work with databases and other software tools.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Reading list

We've selected 18 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 The Data Scientist’s Toolbox.

The Elements of Statistical Learning

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Classic in the field of machine learning, and it provides a comprehensive overview of statistical learning methods. It covers topics such as linear regression, logistic regression, decision trees, and support vector machines, and includes exercises and examples to help learners understand the concepts.

The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data Mining,...

Hardcover

$$$

The Data Scientist’s Toolbox

What's inside

Syllabus

Good to know

Save this course

Reviews summary

Data science toolset

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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