Data Science: How to Plan Projects, Research and Reflect

Data Science: How to Plan Projects, Research and Reflect

Instructor: Jennifer Sexton

Access provided by SVEC + MBU

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

2 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

Intermediate level

Recommended experience

8 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

How to plan a data science project using a clear framework
·How to research a topic and complete a literature review
·How to reflect on your work and communicate your findings

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Assessments

1 assignment

Taught in English

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There are 2 modules in this course

This course guides you through the key steps involved in planning and delivering a successful data science project. You will learn how to define your project aims, build a clear project plan, and select methods that support strong, evidence-based work. The course also introduces core academic skills, including how to research a topic, complete a literature review, and evaluate information critically.

Reflection is a central part of the process, and you will learn how to reflect on your decisions and communicate your findings with clarity and confidence. Through practical activities and real examples, you will build the skills needed to approach data science projects in a structured and thoughtful way. By the end of the course, you will be ready to plan, research and reflect effectively on your own data science work.

In this short course, you will learn to communicate the key concepts, skills and attitudes for developing a proposal to deliver data science project work, which can then be applied in the workplace.

What's included

22 readings1 assignment

22 readings Total 249 minutes

About this course 10 minutes
How to study this course 10 minutes
Short course author 2 minutes
1.1 Overview 5 minutes
1.2 What is reflective writing and why am I being asked to do it? 10 minutes
1.3 Why should data scientists write reflectively? 5 minutes
1.4 A simplified model for reflective writing 25 minutes
1.5 Shifting from reflective thinking to reflective writing 10 minutes
1.6 Next steps 2 minutes
2.1 A model for reflective writing – an introduction to Gibbs' model 15 minutes
2.2 The reflective template 5 minutes
2.3 When should I reflect? 5 minutes
2.4 Barriers to writing reflectively 20 minutes
2.5 Reflective activity: Examples of student reflections 35 minutes
2.6 Reflective activity: Tutor feedback on student reflections 30 minutes
3.1 Introducing CRISP-DM 15 minutes
3.2 Large projects with diverse teams 5 minutes
3.3 Day-to-day tasks 5 minutes
3.4 How do data scientists collaborate? 5 minutes
3.5 How can I use reflective writing to guide my research? 10 minutes
3.6 Reflection for different purposes within the research project context 15 minutes
Continuing your studies in Data Science 5 minutes

1 assignment Total 30 minutes

3.7 Summary MCQ on CRISP-DM 30 minutes

This week is delivered in collaboration with Skills@Library and examines how to conduct an efficient literature search, keep accurate records, critique the available published literature and consolidate this information into a viable research proposal.  

What's included

1 video15 readings

1 video Total 6 minutes

4.3 Search tools 6 minutes

15 readings Total 175 minutes

4.1 Overview of Week 2 2 minutes
4.2 Deciding where to search 5 minutes
4.4 Developing a search strategy 15 minutes
4.5 Next steps 2 minutes
5.1 Reading with a question in mind: SQ3R 5 minutes
5.2 Matching task: Using questions to guide a literature search 10 minutes
5.3 Reading to answer specific questions 40 minutes
5.4 How should I take notes? 10 minutes
5.5 Software for note taking 2 minutes
5.6 What makes a good research question? 2 minutes
5.7 Next steps 2 minutes
5.8 Annotated course bibliography 10 minutes
Continuing your studies in Data Science 5 minutes
6.1 Activity brief: Reflective assignment 60 minutes
Course Summary 5 minutes

Prepare for a degree

Taking this course by University of Leeds may provide you with a preview of the topics, materials and instructors in a related degree program which can help you decide if the topic or university is right for you.