A Skills-Based Approach to Teaching Big Data Analytics

Transcription

1 A Skills-Based Approach to Teaching Big Data Analytics BDAEdCon 2015 Puerto Rico Elena Gortcheva, Program Chair, MSc Data Systems Technology, Les Pang, Program Chair, MSc Information Technology Irmak Renda-Tanali, Program Chair, MSc Emergency Management Department of Information and Technology Systems Graduate School - University of Maryland University College

2 Presentation Outline 1. Students Profile 2. Motivation 3. Curricula development 4. Learning Demonstration 5. Piloting Learning Demonstration 6. Next step

3 Students Profile working adults, military mid-career professionals workforce-related degree programs mostly online courses open-admissions university

4 Motivation 1. Skill Based curricula development in TGS - UMUC Employers are looking for employees with hand on experience and who are prepared to meet challenges very quickly. Employers are looking for employees who have abilities that are relevant today and tomorrow. Focus on application, ability to do. 2. Programs must adapt to the world of big data analytic Businesses have understood the potential benefits of big data but Universities are behind in adapting to the changing landscape

5 Preparing Professional expert input from the advisory board external reviewers stakeholders survey of the subject area innovation The curriculum was designed on what emerged as the workforce needs of the industry.

6 Curricula development All programs share the common soft skills critical thinking ability to communicate technical information appropriate for the given audience (such as executives, managers, users, technical personnel, and stakeholders), quantitative reasoning collaboration.

7 Curricula development Data Systems Technology: Data models for a Big Data systems NoSQL, Graph Database Distributed data bases, Data warehousing Data mining Big Data technology Hadoop

8 Curricula development Information Technology: Current and emerging IT technologies Emphasis on requirements of an organization. Big Data and Analytics related skills are an integral part of the study on emerging IT technologies

9 Curricula development Emergency Management: Professionals with analytical, technical, and technological skills that can make sense out of large sets of data Hazard/risk-specific information Risk mitigation programs

10 Data mining Learning Demonstration Task: Plan, design and implement data analysis of a real world data set. Scenario: Student assume the role of lead of the Data mining team. You are given a data set and your task is to identify the problem(s) to be solved or opportunities to be realized by mining the selected data set. Identify and describe the opportunities to be realized by mining the selected data set. Focus on the benefits that your company will gain. Select the data mining tools to be used. Apply at least two different data mining techniques and compare the results Prepare Final Report

11 NoSQL Learning Demonstration Task: Plan, design and implement an NoSQL data base for a domain specific application. Scenario: Student assume the role of lead of the company s Database Design Team. A new database system is needed. Your task is to plan, design and implement NoSQL database system that meets the given requirements Describe the need to create, design and implement the database that you propose. Focus on the benefits that the database offers Develop a model using a suitable diagram tool. Create the objects as defined in the diagram Implement the database design Prepare Final Report

12 Infrastructure Modernization Review- Learning Demonstration Task: research emerging cross-functional technology trends which include Big Data. Scenario: Student assume the role of a Chief Technology Officer of a hypothetical organization is responsible for addressing a collection of problematic issues related to information technology. Among other tasks, students are asked to research emerging cross-functional technology trends which include Big Data. They are asked to review and evaluate the relevancy of this trend to the identified issues.

13 Business Intelligence Project Identify reporting and analytics needs for tracking sales performance for a chain of retail stores. Discover ways to boost revenue based on this analysis. Students learn to use software such as Tableau and RapidMiner, Create a dashboard using Tableau software Conduct association rules mining using RapidMiner. Incorporating a key concept such as big data analytics ensures that timely and relevant content is included in the proposed revised degree program.

14 Budget Forecasting for FEMA Disaster Assistance Review a massive database of Public and Individual Disaster Assistance Grants provided by the FEMA. Database - hazard types including hurricanes, floods, coastal storms, earthquakes, snows, tornados typhoons, volcanoes, terrorist attacks, chemical spills, etc., Disaster declaration by state - the amount of money granted by FEMA. Preparing a disaster aid budget for prospective years using Big Data Analytics tools and techniques.

15 Piloting Learning Demonstrations Surveys assessing the effectiveness of the skills-based approach: Is skills-based approach an engaging way? Would like to see this approach in future classes? Compare with traditional exams, papers, discussions forum Connection between project activities and what is needed at work? Gain needed skills for my current or future job? What did you like about the approach? How can this approach be improved?

16 Next steps Developing similar Learning Demonstration for other programs: Bioinformatics, Health Care Informatics, and Cybersecurity Sharing Learning Demonstration among programs

17 Questions???