This syllabus is subject to change based on specific class needs, especially the schedule. Significant deviations will be discussed in class. Individual exceptions to the policies and schedule are granted only in cases of true emergency. Please make arrangements with me if an emergency arises.
The purpose of this course is for students to gain practical experience with data science projects: planning, implementing, and getting to know the common tools. Students will work in small groups to develop three different data science applications. A central component of each application will be the collection, cleaning, and structuring of data sets. Each application will expose them to different kinds and sources of data such as relational database and web-based APIs. Groups will maintain and develop their projects using GitHub or GitLab and Git version control software. Students will also engage in peer-review of the work of their team members and the other development teams in the course. Upon completing the course students will know how to formulate basic data science problem statements, construct appropriate data sets to explore their problems, carry out the appropriate modeling and analysis for their problem, and present the findings. Where students’ prior experience covered these things in pieces, this course will have you work this process from start to end.
Books and reference materials will be based on projects assigned but are likely to be a combination of online resources and instructor provided handouts. As part of their projects students will learn to seek out and work with reference material for programming tools and languages in addition to textbooks.
Every project will use git and GitHub for collaboration and version
control. If you are familiar with the command line you may prefer to
simply use the git command; otherwise you should install a graphical
client. You will need to download
gititself. Although it comes with a
basic graphical client, you may prefer to install a third-party
client; GitHub Desktop will suit our
needs, although you may choose whichever you wish.
Zoom classes: If the instructor’s video is turned on, yours should be, too. Any computer, tablet, or phone usage should be directly related to the course, e.g., Zoom or Socrative. Anything else is rude and distracting to others. Inappropriate use of devices, or not turning your video on, will result in a low participation grade. To fully participate in class, you should plan to attend each Zoom session on a laptop or desktop computer, NOT a tablet or phone. This will allow you to take part in any live-coding exercises with the rest of the class. Please let the instructor know ahead of time if this is not possible for any particular class meeting.
Late assignments: In general, late assignments will not be accepted. Exceptions may be made only for situations beyond your control. If you feel your reason is justified, schedule a meeting with the instructor to plead your case.
Academic dishonesty: Monmouth College’s official policy on academic dishonesty can be found here. You are responsible for reading and complying with that policy.
In this course, any violation of the academic honesty policy will have varying consequences depending on the severity of the infraction as judged by the instructor. Minimally, a violation will result in an “F” or 0 points on the assignment in question. Additionally, the student’s course grade may be lowered by one letter grade. In severe cases, the student will be assigned a course grade of “F” and dismissed from the class. All cases of academic dishonesty must be reported to the Associate Dean who may decide to recommend further action to the Admissions and Academic Status Committee, including suspension or dismissal. It is assumed that students will educate themselves regarding what is considered to be academic dishonesty, so excuses or claims of ignorance will not mitigate the consequences of any violations
General expectations: In short, I expect you to be respectful of others and take responsibility for your own learning. You are here to learn, so work hard and be professional.
Just attending class is not sufficient to truly learn the material. Read the text, use the resources available at Monmouth College, and go beyond the material.
If you miss class, you are responsible for everything covered on that day. College is, in some sense, your job. Take pride in creating quality work. Staple your assignments, label problems, and present your answers neatly and orderly.
Your job is to convince me that you have learned the material – show your work! Even if you do not know a particular answer, guide me through your thought process.
The weekly workload for this course will vary by student and by week but should be about 12-13 hours per week on average. The following table provides a rough estimate of the distribution of time over different course components for a 16 week semester, as well as detailing the type, amount, and relative value of all assignments.
| Category | Amount | Final Grade Weight | Time/Week (Hours) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class Meetings | 42 | 15% (Participation) | 2.5 |
| Peer-Reviews | 6 | - | 0.5 |
| Presentations | 6 | 35% | 2 |
| Projects | 3 | 45% | 7-8 |
| Final Self-Evaluation | 1 | 5% | - |
| Total | 100% | 12-13 |
You can expect to spend most class meetings checking in with your current development team and the course instructor. Accompanying each project there will be two presentations: one checkpoint presentation and one final presentation with an application demo. These presentations will take place during scheduled class times as well. You will carry out peer-reviews and self-evaluations after each presentation.
Your individual project and presentation grades will be determined based on the overall group effort as well as your individual contributions to the application. Individual contributions will be assessed throughthe project tracking features on GitHub/GitLab, through feedback provided by peer-reviews done about your work, and through your own self-evaluations. It will not necessarily be the case that each member of a group receive the same grade on a project or presentation. Participation grades will be determined by class attendance, contributions to discussions on GitHub/GitLab, and through the quality of your peer-reviews submitted about other members of the class. During the final exam period you will be required to carry out one last self-evaluation and self-reflection about the work you did throughout the course of the semester.
Your final grade is based on a weighted average of particular assignment categories. You can estimate your current grade based on your scores and these weights. You may always visit the instructor outside of class to discuss your current standing. Assignments and final grades use a standard grading scale shown below and will not be curved except in rare cases when deemed necessary by the instructor.
This courses uses a standard grading scale. Assignments and final grades will not be curved except in rare cases when its deemed necessary by the instructor. Percentage grades translate to letter grades as follows:
| Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 94–100 | A |
| 90–93 | A- |
| 88–89 | B+ |
| 82–87 | B |
| 80–81 | B- |
| 78–79 | C+ |
| 72–77 | C |
| 70–71 | C- |
| 68–69 | D+ |
| 62–67 | D |
| 60–61 | D- |
| 0–59 | F |
You are always welcome to challenge a grade that you feel is unfair or calculated incorrectly. Mistakes made in your favor will never be corrected to lower your grade. Mistakes made not in your favor will be corrected. Basically, after the initial grading your score can only go up as the result of a challenge*.
You are always welcome to challenge a grade that you feel is unfair or calculated incorrectly. Mistakes made in your favor will never be corrected to lower your grade. Mistakes made not in your favor will be corrected. Basically, after the initial grading your score can only go up as the result of a challenge.
The following tentative calendar should give you a feel for how work is distributed throughout the semester. Assignments and events are listed in the week they are due or when they occur. This calendar is subject to change based on the circumstances of the course.
| Date | Topic |
|---|---|
| Week 1: 01/25 – 01/29 | Logistics, Intro, Git, Github (1, 2, 3, 4) |
| Week 2: 02/01 – 02/05 | Project 1, Files |
| Week 3: 02/08 – 02/12 | Project 1 Checkpoint (Thu), Checkpoint Review Form |
| Week 4: 02/15 – 02/19 | Checkpoint Reviews Due (Tue) |
| Week 5: 02/22 – 02/26 | Project 1 Final: Presentation (Thu), Report (Fri), Final Review Form |
| Week 6: 03/01 – 03/05 | Project 1 Reviews Due (Tue), Project 2 |
| Week 7: 03/08 – 03/12 | |
| Week 8: 03/15 – 03/19 | Project 2 Checkpoint (Thu), Checkpoint Review Form |
| Week 9: 03/22 – 03/26 | Checkpoint Reviews Due (Tue) |
| Week 10: 03/29 – 04/01 | Project 2 Final (Thu), Final Review Form |
| (Fri 04/02 – Easter Break) | |
| Week 11: 04/05 – 04/09 | Project 2 Reviews Due (Tue), Project 3 |
| Week 12: 04/12 – 04/16 | |
| Week 13: 04/19 – 04/23 | Project 3 Checkpoint (Thu), |
| Week 14: 04/26 – 04/30 | Checkpoint Review Due (Tue) |
| Week 15: 05/03 – 05/05 | |
| (Fri 05/07 – Finals Begin) | |
| Wed, 05/12 8:00 AM | Project 3 Final Presentation, Final Review Form, Self-Evaluation |
Mental Health and Counseling Services: Monmouth College provides cost-free, professional mental health counseling to support you and to help you manage challenges that may impact your personal and academic success. The Counseling Center is located in the upper level of Poling Hall, offices 204 and 216, and the hours are Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM. To request a confidential appointment on-line, click here or email the center, Cindy Beadles or Tom Caudill.
Student Success and Accessibility Services offers FREE resources to assist Monmouth College students with their academic success. Programs include supplemental instruction for difficult classes, drop-in and appointment tutoring, and individual academic coaching. The office is here to help students excel academically, since everyone can work toward better grades, practice stronger study skills, and mange their time better.
Accessibility Services: If you have a disability or had academic accommodations in high school or another college, you may be eligible for academic accommodations at Monmouth College under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Monmouth College is committed to equal educational access. To discuss any of the services offered, please call or visit Student Success and Accessibility Services. SSAS is located in the ACE space on the first floor of Hewes Library, opposite Einstein Bros. Bagels. They can be reached at 309-457-2257 or via email at ssas@monmouthcollege.edu.
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