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Big Data Technology Capstone Project

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Ke YI, Cecia Ki CHAN, Raymond Chi-Wing WONG, and Jianfeng CAI

Ke YI, Cecia Ki CHAN, Raymond Chi-Wing WONG, and Jianfeng CAI

In this capstone course, you will get an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills that you have gained throughout this MicroMasters program. You can choose to complete any one project from a number of choices, covering topics ranging from data integration, data mining, Spark programming, to data analysis. After finishing the project, you will need to submit a report together with the code, to be reviewed by our TAs.

By completing this capstone project, you will create a showcase project and demonstrate to employers that you are job ready and a worthy candidate in the field of big data.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Apply your knowledge on big data technologies to a real-life scenario
Build a showcase project to demonstrate your knowledge and experience

How to independently work on a big data project

Apply your knowledge on big data technologies to a real-life scenario
Build a showcase project to demonstrate your knowledge and experience
How to independently work on a big data project

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides learners with the opportunity to put theory into practice

Features a flexible design, catering to diverse projects and topics

Encourages independent exploration and execution of big data projects

Ideal for learners seeking practical experience and a competitive edge in the job market

Prepares learners for real-world data analysis scenarios

Covers in-demand industry technologies, including data mining, Spark Programming, and data analysis

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Reviews summary

Practical big data capstone project

According to learners, this course is a highly practical capstone for applying big data knowledge, serving as an excellent showcase project for career readiness. Students appreciate the opportunity to apply skills independently, mirroring real-world scenarios. While many find the flexibility in project choices and useful TA feedback to be positive, a minority of students noted a lack of initial detailed guidance. This project demands strong prerequisites and can feel like more of an assessment than a learning experience for some. Overall, it's a challenging but rewarding experience.

Feedback from TAs is valuable, but the response time can sometimes be slow.

"The TA review process could be a bit slow at times, but the feedback was generally useful."

"The TAs provided good feedback on my code and report, which was a plus."

"The feedback loop with TAs was acceptable, not lightning-fast but adequate."

Course demands mastery of prior MicroMasters content; not for beginners.

"The prerequisites are definitely important; if you haven't mastered the earlier courses, this will be tough."

"This is supposed to be a capstone, not a 'figure it out entirely on your own' project."

"Good for building a portfolio, but be ready for self-study."

Fosters independent problem-solving crucial for job readiness in the big data field.

"By completing this capstone project, I created a showcase project and demonstrated to employers that I am job ready."

"It's truly a test of independent work... exactly what I needed to prepare for job interviews."

"The emphasis on independent work really mimics real-world scenarios. It's a great way to consolidate everything you've learned and show what you can do."

Effectively applies theoretical knowledge to practical, real-world big data scenarios.

"This capstone was a good challenge to apply the concepts from the MicroMasters. It definitely helped me solidify my skills."

"An excellent capstone project! It forced me to pull together everything I learned... It's very practical."

"Truly a valuable course for applying theory to practice. The project allowed for a lot of creativity and problem-solving, which is crucial in real-world big data roles."

Reviewers note a lack of detailed instructions and initial scaffolding, requiring strong self-reliance.

"I found the support lacking. There wasn't much guidance on how to approach the project, and I felt quite lost initially."

"Very disappointed with the lack of detailed instructions... a little more scaffolding or examples would have gone a long way."

"The independence required for this project is a double-edged sword... if you get stuck, it's hard to get timely help."

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 Technology Capstone Project with these activities:

Organize Course Materials

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Keeping organized will help immensely in retaining course materials and information.

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Organize notes, assignments, and other resources
Create a system for your materials
Review organized materials regularly

Review Linear Algebra for Data Analysis

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Linear algebra is foundational to many concepts in big data. Refresh your knowledge before starting the course.

Browse courses on Linear Algebra

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Review your previous notes or textbooks
Attend a refresher workshop

Review Apache Spark Tutorial

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Apache Spark is covered in detail in this course. Master it by following this tutorial.

Browse courses on Apache Spark

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Find and read a tutorial on Apache Spark
Follow the tutorial and complete the exercises

Six other activities

Expand to see all activities and additional details

Show all nine activities

Practice Data Integration Tasks

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Data integration is covered in depth in this course. Solidify your knowledge with these practice drills.

Browse courses on Data Integration

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Find online data integration exercises
Attempt to solve the exercises
Review your solutions

Practice Big Data Analysis with Case Studies

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Case studies help apply theoretical knowledge in a practical way. Solve some case studies to reinforce your learning!

Browse courses on Big Data Analysis

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Find case studies on big data analysis
Analyze the case studies
Develop solutions or recommendations

Create a Big Data Project Proposal

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This activity requires students to apply knowledge learned throughout the course to a particular project.

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Identify a problem statement related to big data
Propose a solution using big data technologies
Describe the implementation plan
Submit the project proposal

Mentor Students in Data Analytics

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Mentoring others is a great way to reinforce and solidify your knowledge in big data.

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Volunteer to mentor students
Answer questions and provide guidance
Review and provide feedback on assignments

Create a Big Data Resources Collection

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This activity provides you with the opportunity to explore and share resources that enhance course knowledge.

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Find and curate resources related to big data
Organize them by topic or type
Create a reference guide
Share your collection with others

Present Your Capstone Project

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This is your opportunity to demonstrate your mastery of the covered concepts.

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Create a slideshow presentation
Choose a project to present
Practice your presentation
Deliver your presentation

Career center

Learners who complete Big Data Technology Capstone Project will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Analyst

Data Analysts collect, clean, and interpret data to help organizations make informed decisions. This course provides a strong foundation in big data technologies, which are essential for Data Analysts to succeed. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which are valuable skills for Data Analysts. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Data Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design, build, and maintain data pipelines. This course provides a strong foundation in big data technologies, which are essential for Data Engineers to succeed. The course also covers data integration and Spark programming, which are valuable skills for Data Engineers. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Data Engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve business problems. This course provides a strong foundation in big data technologies, which are essential for Data Scientists to succeed. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which are valuable skills for Data Scientists. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Data Scientists.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Big Data Architect

Big Data Architects design and implement big data solutions. This course provides a strong foundation in big data technologies, which are essential for Big Data Architects to succeed. The course also covers data integration, data mining, and Spark programming, which are valuable skills for Big Data Architects. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Big Data Architects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Big Data Architect

Machine Learning Engineer

Machine Learning Engineers build and deploy machine learning models. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Machine Learning Engineers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which are essential for Machine Learning Engineers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Machine Learning Engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Machine Learning Engineer

Data Warehouse Architect

Data Warehouse Architects design and implement data warehouses. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Data Warehouse Architects. The course also covers data integration and data mining, which are essential for Data Warehouse Architects to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Data Warehouse Architects.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Warehouse Architect

Database Administrator

Database Administrators manage and maintain databases. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Database Administrators. The course also covers data integration and data analysis, which are essential for Database Administrators to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Database Administrators.

See salaries and explore the career path for Database Administrator

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Software Engineers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which can be essential for Software Engineers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Software Engineers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use data to improve business processes. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Business Analysts. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which are essential for Business Analysts to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Business Analysts.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Project Manager

Project Managers plan and execute projects. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Project Managers. The course also covers data integration and data analysis, which can be essential for Project Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Project Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

IT Manager

IT Managers plan and implement IT strategies. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for IT Managers. The course also covers data integration and data analysis, which can be essential for IT Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for IT Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for IT Manager

Product Manager

Product Managers design and develop products. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Product Managers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which can be essential for Product Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Product Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers plan and execute marketing campaigns. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Marketing Managers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which can be essential for Marketing Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Marketing Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Manager

Sales Manager

Sales Managers plan and execute sales strategies. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Sales Managers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which can be essential for Sales Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Sales Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Manager

Customer Success Manager

Customer Success Managers ensure that customers are satisfied with products and services. This course provides a foundation in big data technologies, which can be valuable for Customer Success Managers. The course also covers data mining and analysis techniques, which can be essential for Customer Success Managers to succeed. Additionally, the capstone project allows students to demonstrate their ability to work independently on a big data project, which is a highly sought-after skill for Customer Success Managers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Customer Success Manager

Reading list

We've selected six 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 Technology Capstone Project.

Cover image

Cover image

Spark: The Definitive Guide

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Is the definitive guide to Apache Spark, a popular framework for processing big data. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to use Spark to solve real-world problems.

Spark: The Definitive Guide

Spark: The Definitive Guide

Cover image

Cover image

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide

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Is the definitive guide to Apache Hadoop, a popular framework for storing and processing big data. It valuable resource for students who want to learn how to use Hadoop to solve real-world problems.

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide: Storage and Analysis...

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide

Hadoop: The Definitive Guide

Cover image

Cover image

Machine Learning in Action

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Provides a practical introduction to machine learning algorithms and techniques for big data. It useful resource for students who want to apply machine learning to big data problems.

Machine Learning in Action

(中文) 机器学习实战 (图灵程序设计丛书 72) (Chinese Edition)

Cover image

Cover image

Frank Kane's Taming Big Data with Apache Spark and...

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Provides a hands-on introduction to big data analytics using PySpark. It useful resource for students who want to learn how to use PySpark to develop big data applications.

Frank Kane's Taming Big Data with Apache Spark and...

Frank Kane's Taming Big Data with Apache Spark and...

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This classic textbook covers the fundamental concepts and techniques of data mining. It valuable reference for students who want to learn more about data mining algorithms and techniques.

Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques (The Morgan...

Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques (The Morgan...

Data Mining: Concepts and Techniques, Second...

Data Mining: Know It All

Cover image

Cover image

Big Data Analytics with Java

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Provides a practical introduction to big data analytics using Java. It useful resource for students who want to learn how to use Java to develop big data applications.

Big Data Analytics with Java: Data analysis,...

Big Data Analytics with Java: Data analysis,...

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Effort

4 to 8 hours per week for 4 weeks

Level

Intermediate

Via

edX

Institution

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

Instructors

Ke YI

Cecia Ki CHAN

Raymond Chi-Wing WONG

Jianfeng CAI

Language

English

Transcript

English

This course belongs to a collection called Big Data Technology. It's comprised of five courses:

Big Data Technology Capstone Project (viewing)
Big Data Computing with Spark
Foundations of Data Analytics
Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery
Mathematical Methods for Data Analysis

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides learners with the opportunity to put theory into practice

Features a flexible design, catering to diverse projects and topics

Encourages independent exploration and execution of big data projects

Ideal for learners seeking practical experience and a competitive edge in the job market

Prepares learners for real-world data analysis scenarios

Covers in-demand industry technologies, including data mining, Spark Programming, and data analysis

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