Our team loved the Big Data Analytics class and has learned to connect business and data. With this blog post, we would like to share our experiences.
Anshul
Thank you so much for teaching this course and helping us learn so many things in this short span of time. I loved the beautiful and simple definition of Big Data, very different from much prevalent one. I was so much inspired that I shared it with my connection on LinkedIn (linkd.in/1FXCMP9). Learning nitty-gritty’s about different metrics and understanding difference b/w bounce rate & exit rate was very interesting. Biggest takeaway from this class was to follow and learn Avinash Kaushik – I am amazed by the simplicity and clarity by which he explains complex concepts in his blog and his book Web 2.0.
Working on Google Analytics and providing recommendation to UA Alumni was really fascinating. Connecting all the dots and making a business improvement decision is not an easy task and it was much realized from this short project. I loved working on visualization and I found some great resources (like @TwitterData) that I can follow/use throughout my career to learn and improve my visualization skills. Though, using twitter may sound a basic skill but I was not much conversant with Twitter before taking this course. Now, I feel much more connected as I have developed liking towards Twitter and started using it much more frequently. Technical skills developed by working on AWS, MongoDB, NOSQL, API and Gephi was great addition to my skillset.
I have had great learning experience in this class and I think it will be helping me a lot in my career. I look forward to stay connected with you and keep sharing my learning.
Leon
Companies have become really good at collecting data but not at understanding the data. Big data is data of a large enough set that it is difficult to gain actionable insights without computer assisted analysis. Data that does not provide direction is pointless. Big data is difficult to understand and comprehend without quality visualizations. Many tools are available to help collect, store, and analyze data. Combining data sets can provide better direction. By properly analyzing data companies can gain understanding and actionable insights.
Ryan
Reflecting on this semester of Big Data Analytics, I feel that this course has been invaluable in exposing me to Data Science tools and techniques that I will be able to utilize in my current research and future career. Prior to this course, I did not have extensive experience with web analytics, visualization, or network analysis. Now I can say that I have worked with Google Analytics to measure and improve website engagement; I have learned how to tell better stories through the use of data visualization and that visualization extends beyond just Tableau dashboards; I have seen how intricate networks can be formed and how insights can be derived from their interconnections. Having spent a considerable amount of time on cleaning and pre-processing data, I can also say that I have a new appreciation for information and knowledge because of the effort that it takes to transform that data into actionable intelligence. Despite the time commitment that this course required, Big Data Analytics has provided a worthwhile learning experience.
Ting-Ju
This class was very interesting. I am glad I decided to take it.
Before taking this class, data analytics is just a "fancy" concept for me. But now, I know how to using different tools to capture and translate data to useful insights.
In the beginning, we started from web analytics. Using tools like Google Analytics, which already have dashboard for us, to take our first step to learn how we use data to make business strategies. While looking at dashboard, we know who is our target users, time, locations, channels.. etc. Then base on this report, digital analyst can give a good suggestions to improve company’s website and how to target different segment of users.
More, we learned data visualization. This isn’t just putting data to visualization tools. The key point is what is the question? What do you want to take away from these visualizations. Once you know your purpose, every data visualizations will make sense to you.
Last, our ending big topic in class is network analysis. And the most interesting part to me. Because every steps you made while gathering or generating data might make a different inference or story. Not only do the observation is important, putting the right context is also good step while having network analysis.
Last, I want to say I really love Dr. Ram’s teaching style. Always giving us great stories to discuss and using example to give us a “feeling” how we can apply data science to our daily life. And thanks to my team members. Always being open minded to listen my opinions, and bringing their knowledge to this team. Let me know what I’m missing.
This class really make me want to learn more and more!
Yu
Thank you so much for providing this course to let us get the chance to learn different aspects of big data. At the beginning of the course, the term “big data” is just the term for me. I thought big data analysis seems very far from me. But after learning different concepts about big data analysis and all the hands on experience we had, I begin to know the big data analysis is not just for the expert in the industry and every one can have his or her own idea about the big data. Also big data is not just about the word “big”, not just the volume. By following steps by steps with Dr. Ram, I learn several things from the class. First of all, that big data is not just about the visualization, but the story behinds the data is most important. This is also what I feel most fascinating, because at the beginning we just had raw data, but after all the analysis we did, we can put them together and make a story about it. Second, now lots of companies have huge number of data and they don’t know how to use it. If we can utilize what we learn from this class and generate some idea for the company we might have the chance to work for. It will be a huge benefit for both ourselves and the company. Last, the big data analysis is far for what we have learnt from this class. I still have lots of to learn about this area and lots of to improve. I will continue learning more about big data analysis after the course end. Finally, I would like to thanks again for Dr. Ram’s help during this course learning and also all my teammates during this semester.
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Team CSI is signing off with this final blog post and we leave you with this funny video on Big Data!
