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CSCI 104: Data Science and Computing for All

Stephen Freund and Katie Keith

CSCI 104: Data Science and Computing for All

Williams College�Fall 2023

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Objectives�

Offer less programming-intensive intro to CS�

Reduce demand on CS1�(on ramp and off ramp)�

Data science, dude!�

Scale class while preserving "liberal arts" qualities

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Build a supportive community�into the class

Structure��data8 materials, infrastructure -- library, server-side notebooks, autograder* -- and narrative arc

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No prereqs. Lecture + weekly lab.��More on CS core: abstraction, generalization, testing (but not CS1!)

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Engagement: new/local data sets, think-pair-shares, ethics workshop discussions, collaboration�

Open-ended work�

Capstone project

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Representation

Wrangling

Cause & Effect

Python

Writing functions

Reading error messages

Using CSV files

Jupyter Notebooks

Conditionals

Testing

Generalization

Tables and arrays

Loops

Debugging

Abstraction

Data types

Reading documentation

Math to code

Algorithms

Visualization

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Estimation

Prediction

Hypothesis Testing

A

B

Randomness

Python

Writing functions

Reading error messages

Using CSV files

Jupyter Notebooks

Conditionals

Testing

Generalization

Tables and arrays

Loops

Debugging

Abstraction

Data types

Reading documentation

Math to code

Algorithms

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Prelab 0

Please post one important question about our world for which data could be helpful

Lab 0

Lab 9

Final Project

September 9, 2022

Initial question on Piazza

Local (Williams Mutual Aid)

Politics

Crime

Pollution�Environment

Health�Pandemic�Sports

CSCI 104: Data Science and Computing for All

Williams College�Fall 2023

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Fall 2023��Expect >60

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Reduce pain points �(error msgs, debugging, cryptic libs)

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Push independent exploration and interactive visualizations earlier

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Broaden scope of problems w/ help of colleagues across College

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Outcomes�

48 students; 6 TAs; community (location, "branding", "positive positioning")

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Great response from students

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Empowering

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50% not going on to CS1. 50% are.

25% already planned to take CS1�25% were inspired to take CS1