17  Project Brainstorming

TODAY’S GOALS

  • Understand the expectations of the project
  • Brainstorm project ideas
  • Explore possible data sets





WHERE ARE WE?!? Starting a data project

This final, short unit will help prepare us as we launch into course projects. In order to even start these projects, we need some sense of the following:

  1. data import: how to find data, store data, load data into RStudio, and do some preliminary data checks & cleaning

  2. exploratory data analysis (EDA)





17.1 Warm-up

17.1.1 Project overview (~10 minutes)

Provided here.

17.1.2 Brainstorming rounds (~15 minutes)

We’ll do the following 3 times (5 minutes each time). This is an opportunity to get to know others in the class who might be great project teammates!

  1. Switch to a new table based on the common categories on the board

  2. Introduce yourself

  3. Share areas of interest that you might want to connect to this data project

17.1.3 Look for some data (~15 minutes)

Just out of curiosity, and for help in brainstorming, poke around for some data related to your brainstorming rounds.

  • Search online for specific topics (filetype:csv).

  • Peruse data repositories. Here are just a few:

  • Perhaps use data that you learned about or collected in another class, internship, etc. CAVEAT: You cannot collect your own data via a survey. This requires a lot of paperwork that isn’t feasible in our time frame.


17.1.4 Complete project checkpoint 2

Project Milestone 2, a project interest form, is due Monday by 11am. Check it out now so that you can let the questions percolate. If you’re ready to fill it out, do so now. Otherwise, reflect some more and fill it out sometime after class but before the deadline.



17.1.5 Next steps

Once you’ve reviewed, and maybe even completed, Milestone 2, work on one of the following:

  • Any outstanding work

    • Homework 7 (due tonight)

  • The project! IF you’re done with all of the above, start looking for cool data, and maybe even identify a project group. Be sure to discuss this group with me before getting too far.

  • Milestone 2 (due Monday by 11am)


NOTE:
Attendance is very, very important in our remaining class sessions. If you are not in class, you are not contributing to the group project, and this will impact assessment of your project engagement. If you cannot make a class, you must contact both me and your group (which will be assigned next class). You should plan to make up for your lack of participation during class with 1.5 hours on your own time.