Online Data Science Classroom Experience
About two months ago, the very first online classroom constituting absolute beginners mixed with learners who wanted a more personalized hands-on practical classroom experience from various domains and institutions commenced.
The class was made possible through a partnership between CTI and University of Nairobi – Kisumu Campus with a view of promoting short Artificial Intelligence Courses amongst the youth within Kisumu and across the country.
This online classroom program is open to absolute beginners and beginners in Data Science, Machine Learning, Python and Databases whether you are still in school, or just completed school or have been working and in need of a classroom that breaks down complex concepts into simpler and interesting concepts that everyone in class is able to understand and implement through coding.
It has been an exciting but very demanding experience where our patience, empathy, group work, time management were all put to test both as a class and at individual level.
The Lecturer
My name is Robert Ayub, a practicing Data Scientist at a leading telecommunication company, a student of law and a part-time Machine Learning tutor in a few institutes of higher learning within Nairobi. As a practicing Data Scientist, I sit in Technical Review Benches for Data Science and Machine Learning at various colleges. I am also sitting board member at a Community Based Organization called Better Futures for Children (https://betterfutureschildren.org/ ) as the Director, Artificial Intelligence, and Innovation.
I was honored to be the one selected to take the learners through hands-on online sessions and every evening on selected days, we go through online classes with a mix of theoretical sessions, practical sessions and even, online quizzes and exams.
The Platforms
Carnegie Training Institute (CTI) has cloud hosted platforms that are to be used by the learners. These are:
- Learning Management System
- Data Science Hosting Programming Environment Using Python
- Data Engineering Platforms for performing Data Engineering Tasks
- Online Database
- And so much more
Having these controlled platforms means that:
- As a learner, you do not need to install or setup anything on your laptop until such a time you have understood the concepts and mature enough to troubleshoot problems faced whenever you are running these platforms from your laptop. This saves you time, and you learn faster from the lecturer as well as from fellow learners who may be ahead of you.
- As a lecturer, you do not need to worry about supporting learners with platform or system related errors that are normally common when learners use their own personal laptops. Most common errors normally are missing libraries. This means the entire three hours becomes productive to the learners.
The journey so far
It has not been a smooth journey, I must admit. As a practicing Data Scientist, a part time tutor and a student of law, on few occasions I have been overwhelmed resulting to skipped classes which had to be rescheduled affecting early completion of the courses.
But as an optimist, I chose to cling onto the brighter side. The main advantage to me is that I get to understand the very many different ways to explain a concept due to the different understanding levels of learners. In class, I get different questions from different learners, some of which would be completely new and may require my research to give back an answer to the learners.
I also noted that the learners are also optimistic, dedicated, patient and committed to learn the concepts delivered in class. Despite the challenges, the learners feel they are gaining so much, the learners are suggesting ways of improving and making the program run better and the partners (CTI and UoN Kisumu Campus) have remained supportive to ensure learning continues especially to those sincerely eager to learn.
The Program
The program runs Monday, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 7:00 PM to 9:30PM to accommodate those who are working and would like to start from scratch on concepts around Data Science, Machine Learning and Database Concepts for Data Science.
As a registered learner, you get access to the development platforms, learning management system. And you have unlimited access to the content. The only difference between Learners who pay the fee and Learners who do not pay for the fee is the certificate. Paying Learners get a certificate at the end of the program. Non-paying learners do not get a certificate. However, as a Non-Paying learner should you need a certificate, you will be required to make a payment before you can be issued the certificate.
Any non-paying learner who misses more than 25% of the class sessions in a month will be discontinued and in order to resume, you will be expected to pay the full fee amount. If you are a paying learner and you miss 25% of the class sessions in a month, you will miss a DISINCTION certificate. This means for you to get a distinction certificate, you are expected to attend 80% of the class sessions each month amongst other requirements.
The program paths are:
- SQL for Data Science
- Python for Data Science
- Data Analytics
- Data Visualization
- Math's for Data Science
- Machine Learning
Further Inquiries
- Contact Carnegie Training Institute for further information on the program
Sources
- My Own Experience
