We’re excited to embark on this journey with you into the world of data, where you'l learn how to interpret, process, communicate and make decisions with data. Before get started, find out a bit more about this course to get the most out of it!
Meet Your Teacher
Hello! My name is Llewelyn Fernandes. For most of my professional career, I’ve been working with data in one way or another. As a computer scientist, data is hard to avoid! For 30 years, I worked as a software developer and consultant, helping organizations get the most out of their data and computer systems. My career has involved working with databases, algorithms, machine learning, and lots of data! These days, I spend my time teaching and applying my skills in a variety of creative ways.
Find Out How This Course Works
Are there any prerequisites for taking this course?
The course does not presume that you have any data skills, but you should have some basic computer skills. If you’ve worked a bit with spreadsheets, that would be a plus, but it’s certainly not essential.
How is this course structured?
The course is split into four parts.
In Part 1, I’ll set the scene and explain what data is and what being data literate will enable you to do.
In Part 2, we'll get hands-on with the data and understand what working with data is like.
In Part 3, we'll explore how to visualize data using charts and other means.
In Part 4, we'll look at how to tell stories with data, so your hard work impacts the world.
Sounds good, but how will I be able do all those things by the end of the course?
This course is very practical. You will see many examples of working with data and get hands-on experience through the Your Turn sections of the course and quizzes at the end of each part. To complete the exercises, you must have access to a spreadsheet application, such as Excel, Numbers, or Google Sheets. You can sign up for a free version of Excel online here or Google sheets here. I will use Google Sheets to illustrate my examples. Note that different applications have different features, so you may need to experiment to replicate some examples. If you are not used to working in a spreadsheet or need to refresh your memory, review Part 1 of the Master the Basics of Spreadsheets course.
Now you know what lies ahead, so let’s dive in! We will start by exploring what role data already plays in your life.
