Coding for Kids
In this introductory course, you’ll explore science, sports, politics, climate change, and much more while learning to interrogate a data set, just like a data pro, and make your own conclusions.
Data is everywhere around us, transforming our world. And data analysis brings exciting insights and discoveries to bear in almost every field imaginable. The applications are countless: the world of Moneyball and sports statistics, archeologists discovering hidden civilizations with LiDAR data, and climate scientists tracking temperature change and polar ice melt.
In Data Science 1, you’ll:
- Learn how to make use of Python, the most popular language for data science
- Understand different types of data (categorical vs. numerical) as well as different kinds of analysis
- Model how things work using data! Make a prediction, then test your results
- Create your own original graphs and visualizations
- Learn the strengths and weaknesses of different visualization types, and how you can filter, clean, and interpret data
- Apply basic statistical concepts like mean, median, mode, and standard deviation
- Learn the industry-standard Data Science libraries: numpy, pandas, and matplotlib
Whether you’re curious about data journalism, science, or just want to tell a story with data, this course is a fast and fun way to get started. Learn more about becoming a Data Scientist, sometimes called “America’s Hottest Job,” and explore a variety of real-world, hands-on labs so that you can make a discovery in your world with math!
Designed for: Grades 9-12
Language: Python with numpy, matplotlib, and pandas (popular data science Python modules).
Prerequisites: Algebra I. Previous Python programming experience is recommended but not strictly necessary (Complete Tynker’s Python 101, or Tynker AP CSP).
Course Length: 9 Weeks (or longer). Self-paced and self-guided.
What’s Inside?
Check out what you’ll learn:
Unit 1: Introduction
Explore common data tasks like finding the average, inspecting data, and more. Learn about the data types you might be analyzing, including numerical and categorical data, and understand how they might affect your analysis. Explore how bias in an analyst or your data can impact your results. Finally, work through inspecting datasets about baseball stats, Asian elephants’ ages, and city populations!
Unit 2: Graphs
Learn how to do the basics: create histograms, bar charts, line graphs and scatter plots using matplotlib, the most popular Python visualization library. Understand how and why to use each kind of graph through guided projects. Finally, use data from NASA to visualize the monthly rainfall in your hometown!
Unit 3: DataFrames
In this unit, you’ll explore how to work with DataFrames, a datatype foundational in the pandas’ library that allows you to easily manipulate datasets. You’ll learn how to narrow your analysis to a particular set of data of interest—without deleting any underlying data. You’ll also learn how to generate random data so that you can prototype new visualizations fast. Next, begin to generate models to represent your dataset. Finally, put these skills to the test by organizing and graphing data about your favorite Olympic medal victories!
Unit 4: Complex Charts
In this unit, you’ll deep dive into charting and explore more data visualization types, including box charts, pie charts, and donut plots. You’ll further build your data organization skills by learning about pivot tables and grouping data. Next, you’ll explore how to combine graphs into effective figures with labels, legends, and other customizations to make your visualizations more convincing and compelling. Finally, you’ll model ocean data from NASA and experiment using your own data!
Unit 5: Capstone Project
Go through the real-world process of data analysis, from start to finish. In this final, open-ended challenge, you’ll create your own original data analysis. Find a data set and perform some initial analysis and clean-up, then create your own original visualizations from scratch!
Other Advanced Courses on Tynker
Data Science 1 is the latest addition to Tynker’s high school level courses that are available to home users. Take a look at what else we’re offering!
- Introduction to Programming and Art – Get introduced to art, design, and animation principles using Processing, a programming language designed for the visual arts community
- JavaScript 1 – Learn to code fun browser-based games using JavaScript and HTML canvas. Build 11 mini-games like Snake and Pong!
- Intro to Web Development – Learn to create responsive web pages using HTML and CSS.
- Python 1 – Learn to code browser-based games using Python, pen drawing, and Turtle graphics.
- Python 2 – Learn to solve real-world problems with a fast-paced introduction to Python.
