Contents

Course Syllabus¶

This is the official syllabus and course outline for DATA 530.

DATA 530 (1) Computing Platforms for Data Science¶

The UBCO calendar description of this course is:

Introduction to software and tools for Data Science. Setup process. Credit will be granted for only one of DATA 301 or DATA 530. Restricted to students in the MDS program.

Is this syllabus a contract?¶

Rather than interpreting this syllabus as a legal document that serves as a contract between the instructor and the students, I prefer to view the syllabus as a living document. Dr. John Warmer describes this best in his article, “A syllabus is not a contract”:

… this syllabus is not a contract, it is a living document which reflects the experiences, emotions, philosophies, and goals I bring to a particular course.

and also:

A syllabus as a plan is a lot like an itinerary before a trip. There’s some definite highlights we need to hit, but if something that seems cool and worth doing crops up unexpectedly, we need to seize that opportunity in the moment. If something really bad happens (the equivalent of a norovirus breakout on a cruise ship) we may need to abandon something previously scheduled entirely.

Interestingly, it is worth noting that a recent review of legal precedents suggests that syllabi are not considered contracts by the courts [1].

Having an adaptive and responsive syllabus is important to me as an instructor because it allows me to be more flexible with what/how/when you learn, and respond to your feedback in a meaningful way. I invite you to be co-contributors to this syllabus, and use the tools provided to add your own annotations, questions, and suggestions on making this syllabus work for you.

Important

Please note that I have your best interests in mind, and it is highly unlikely that I will ever change a syllabus in a way that negatively affects the class, or even individual students. If you believe a syllabus change is affecting you negatively, please do not hesitate to reach out to me, or submit your feedback anonymously here.

Changes to the syllabus since the start of Term¶

Any major changes to the syllabus (this page) will be documented here as well as the date the change was made.

Change Date

Summary

Rationale

September 14, 2020

Update passing requirement

The requirement is to get 68% or higher in the overall course; there is no requirement for each quiz score to be over 60%.

About this course¶

Name

Description

Course

DATA 530

Term

2020/21 Winter Term 1

Lectures

Online Monday and Wednesday 9:30 - 11:00

Laboratory

Wednesday 12:30 - 15:30

URL

https://firas.moosvi.com/courses/data530

Instructor

Firas Moosvi

Office

Zoom

Contact

Via Slack in the course channel

Contact the Teaching Team¶

Team Member (Preferred pronouns)

Role

Pronounce as

Contact

Office Hour

Dr. Firas Moosvi (he/his/him)

Instructor

Fur-az Moose-vee

Slack

TBD

Debangsha Sarkar ()

TA

Slack

TBD

How will I be evaluated in this course?¶

The grading scheme for this course is here:

Item

Weight

Due date(s)

Clickers

10%

Every class

Labs

40% (4 x 10%)

Wednesdays at 6 PM

Quiz 1

25%

Sept 30, 2020

Quiz 2

25%

Oct 7, 2020

Attention

All deadlines in this course (except Quizzes) have an automatic 48 hour grace period after the due dates listed above. Any submissions submitted past the grace period will not be graded.

Are there other requirements I need to know about to pass the course?¶

Yes. To pass this course, you must:

  • Achieve at least 68% in the overall course.

Course Learning Outcomes (AKA what will I learn in this course?)¶

  1. Install and setup a variety of software tools and programs used by data analysts

  2. Perform basic and advanced data analysis and visualization in Excel

  3. Able to setup IDEs and write small programs in Python and R

  4. Understand the pros and cons of each tool/software package and criteria to select the best tool for the job

Tip

The full course schedule is available here: Course Schedule

What do I need to purchase for this course?¶

There is no requirement to purchase anything for this course. You will need access to a computer (laptop or desktop) with an internet connection. All of the course material, including videos, labs, and course notes will be available on this site, or on Canvas.

How will this course be taught ?¶

This course will be taught as a Blended Learning classroom where some elements of a flipped classroom will be mixed wih a more traditional coding classroom with live demos, clicker questions, and worksheets. Briefly, this requires students to watch videos and engage with the assigned reading prior to the classroom meeting (knowledge transfer). During the class meeting, the instructor guides students through clicker questions, worksheet problems, and other activities to help the students make sense of the material (sense-making). See Fig. 1 for a mental model of how learning works [2].

../_images/masterymodel1.png

Fig. 1 To develop mastery in a concept, students must first acquire the necessary skills, then practice integrating them, and finally know when to apply what they have learned. This figure was adapted from Figure 4.1 of the book “How Learning Works”. The terms “knowledge transfer” and “sense-making” applied in this context is generally attributed to Dr. Eric Mazur.¶

What does this mean in practical terms?¶

Fig. 2 shows a handy table to help guide you and organize your learning in this course:

../_images/masterymodel2.png

Fig. 2 This table describes how I think each course activity should be classified between knowledge transfer and sense-making.¶

Want to know more about my teaching philosophy ?¶

For a detailed description of my teaching philosophy and values (including a list of references and citations), you can read it here. Here are the key principles I intend to apply in this class:

  1. Student learning is vastly improved through active learning.

  2. Effective teaching is inclusive teaching.

  3. Learning technologies must be leveraged to scale instructor effort across multiple classes.

  4. Exploring the connections between different disciplines is an extremely powerful motivator.

  5. Teaching is three parts preparation, two parts classroom management, and one part execution.

Course Communication¶

  • For lectures, labs, tutorials, and office hours we will be using Zoom.

  • For official course communication, we will be using Canvas and Slack.

Sign up for a (free) Zoom account¶

Instructions coming soon…

What type of information will I collect about you in this course?¶

Having taught DSCI 541: Privacy, Ethics, and Security in the UBC Master of Data Science in the past, I am very aware of the surveillance culture that has permeated our society and heralded the End of Privacy as we know it. That being said, as an instructor, I care tremendously about your learning and the course-related data that is collected about you is extremely valuable. Broadly speaking, this relatively new field is called Learning Analytics. Learning Analytics involves the collection and analysis of data about learners for the express purpose of improving their learning by optimizing teaching and learning practices.

In this course, we will be using the following required learning technologies (privacy policies linked):

… others may be added as needed.

All tools used in the course will be used in a FIPPA-compliant manner, with your privacy top of mind. New tools may be added to the course as the need arises, and I will update this section with the appropriate information and make an announcement if a new tool is added midway through a course.

Optional Tools¶

There are some learning tools that I would like to experiment with this year, and I will not require you to sign up for these (but you are free to do so to explore):

What should I do if I need accommodations to be successful in this course?¶

Accommodations are intended to remove barriers experienced by individuals with disabilities. As a matter of principle, UBC is committed to promoting human rights, equity and diversity, and it also has a legal duty under the BC Human Rights Code to make its goods and services available in a manner that does not discriminate. Policy 73 (Accommodation for Students with Disabilities) sets out principles and processes governing the accommodation of students with disabilities.

All accommodations for this course are handled through the Disability Resource Centre and I encourage you to contact them to book an appointment. For a more detailed guide, the Accommodations page has a list of steps you should take for this course.

What if I miss labs, tests, or the exam due to an illness, health, or other personal situation?¶

Students who, because of unforeseen events, are absent during the term and are unable to complete tests or other graded work, should normally discuss with their instructors how they can make up for missed work. If ill health is an issue, students are encouraged to seek attention from a health professional. Campus Health and Counselling will normally provide documentation only to students who have been seen previously at these offices for treatment or counselling specific to conditions associated with their academic difficulties. Students who feel that requests for consideration have not been dealt with fairly by their instructors may take their concerns first to the Head of the Department, and if not resolved, to the Office of the Dean. Further information can be found at the UBCO Calendar.

Tip

If you miss a course component due to an illness, health, or other personal situation, please reach out to me as soon as you are comfortable, and I’ll work with you to get you back on track.

What if I have dependents that rely on me for care and unpredictable emergencies may arise?¶

Let’s talk, send me a private message and we can discuss it. I do not necessarily need to know all the personal details, just a high-level summary of your situation and what you think an ideal solution would be.

I’m sure we will come to some agreement, generally the earlier you let me know of any special circumstances or accommodation, the more I’ll be able to do for you!

What if I have to miss a deadline because of a wedding, birthday, funeral, religious holiday, or personal event ?¶

No problem! There’s not even any need to tell me, or ask for permission to miss deadlines. The course is designed to give you maximum flexibility:

  • Every deadline has a 48-hour grace period that is automatically applied.

  • There is no late penalty if you use the grace period

  • You can use the grace period an unlimited amount of time in the course (though if it happens every week and for every assignment, I might check in with you and gently encourage you not to leave things to the last minute)

If you miss a deadline by more than the grace period, the general course policy is that you will get 0 on it. In some cases, I reserve the right to grant an extension, or provide an alternate assignment.

Compassion¶

As I’m sure you’re aware, there is a global pandemic happening right now and we could all use some extra compassion and humanity. If you’re going through something that is affecting you (course or otherwise), you are always welcome to come and talk to me about it. If I am not able to help you myself, then I can probably direct you to the right person or resource. If you need extra help, or extra time to deal with something you’re going through, just ask. You will never owe me an explanation about your physical health, mental health, or those of your family members, friends, etc… I will believe you, and I will trust you. I will not judge you, nor think any less of you. I will do everything in my power to work out something that is both reasonable and fair. This, I promise!

How do I go through this course ethically and with integrity?¶

I want to be proud of your work in this course, and I want YOU to be proud of yourself as well! That cannot happen if you make unethical decisions, including (but not limited) to cheating or plagiarism. According to the scientific literature, the most common reasons students cheat are:

  • Fear of failure and life consequences

  • Peer pressure, including an inability to say no to help others cheat

  • Perceived societal acceptance of cheating (Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, Enron, Wall Street & the The Big Short)

  • Desire for success without the time/desire to put in the work needed

  • Strict deadlines and due-dates

  • Requirement from instructors to memorize facts, figures, equations, etc…

  • High-stakes exams with no recompense for “having a bad day”

  • Peers cheating with no consequences or penalties

  • Unclear expectations on what constitutes academic dishonesty

  • Inadequate support from instructor and teaching team

Though I sympathize with students and the stresses of your busy lives - in my opinion, there is no good reason to cheat. I have tried extremely hard to make this course focused on learning rather than grading, and where grading is needed, to have policies that are as student-friendly as possible. In particular, I hope (and expect) that the following features of the course should eliminate your temptation to cheat or plagiarize:

  • 48 hour grace-period on all lab due dates and deadlines.

  • No high-stakes exams (the single largest assessment item is the final exam at 25%).

  • All course assessments are completely open book and open notes.

  • Plenty of TA and instructor office hours and several outside of normal business hours.

  • Class website that outlines exactly what you should do when to help you manage your time.

  • Tonnes of supplemental materials including other instructional videos in case you want a different perspective.

  • Weekly prompt to accept the integrity pledge to keep you accountable.

  • A true willingness from the instructor (me) to help you learn and succeed in this course!

A more detailed description of academic integrity, including the University’s policies and procedures, may be found in the Academic Calendar.

My personal plea¶

With these features, and many other little things, I sincerely hope that you will consider completing this course with maximum integrity so that you never have to feel guilty, ashamed, or disappointed in yourself and your actions!

To make it even easier for you to decide what isn’t allowed, below is a list of things that I definitely consider to be academic dishonesty:

  • Asking others for their work in the course/program (whether by course, question by question, or all at once)

  • Sending others your work in the course

  • Doing tests collaboratively (tests must be done by yourself and alone)

  • Sending others your test questions and/or answers

  • Sharing any course material onto Chegg, Course Hero, Slader, or other similar sites

  • Searching for solutions to course material on Chegg, Course Hero, Slader, or other similar sites

  • Blindly googling the question in hopes of finding someone who had a similar question and then copying their answer

    • Note, googling to find resources to understand specific concepts or general ideas is highly encouraged!

  • Having a tutor/friend/nemesis complete and submit your work for you

  • Copying and pasting code, equations, text explanations, prose, etc… without attribution

  • Manipulating the learning platforms we use to reverse engineer the randomization algorithms, hacking the timer functionality, or other similar technical malfeasance.

UBCO’s statement on Academic Integrity¶

The academic enterprise is founded on honesty, civility, and integrity. As members of this enterprise, all students are expected to know, understand, and follow the codes of conduct regarding academic integrity. At the most basic level, this means submitting only original work done by you and acknowledging all sources of information or ideas and attributing them to others as required. This also means you should not cheat, copy, or mislead others about what is your work. Violations of academic integrity (i.e., misconduct) lead to the breakdown of the academic enterprise, and therefore serious consequences arise and harsh sanctions are imposed. For example, incidences of plagiarism or cheating may result in a mark of zero on the assignment or exam and more serious consequences may apply if the matter is referred to the President’s Advisory Committee on Student Discipline. Careful records are kept in order to monitor and prevent recurrences.

UBC Policies¶

UBC provides resources to support student learning and to maintain healthy lifestyles but recognizes that sometimes crises arise and so there are additional resources to access including those for survivors of sexual violence. UBC values respect for the person and ideas of all members of the academic community. Harassment and discrimination are not tolerated nor is suppression of academic freedom. UBC provides appropriate accommodation for students with disabilities and for religious and cultural observances. UBC values academic honesty and students are expected to acknowledge the ideas generated by others and to uphold the highest academic standards in all of their actions. Details of the policies and how to access support are available here.

Online learning for international students¶

During this pandemic, the shift to online learning has greatly altered teaching and studying at UBC, including changes to health and safety considerations. Keep in mind that some UBC courses might cover topics that are censored or considered illegal by non-Canadian governments. This may include, but is not limited to, human rights, representative government, defamation, obscenity, gender or sexuality, and historical or current geopolitical controversies. If you are a student living abroad, you will be subject to the laws of your local jurisdiction, and your local authorities might limit your access to course material or take punitive action against you. UBC is strongly committed to academic freedom, but has no control over foreign authorities (please visit this calendar page for an articulation of the values of the University conveyed in the Senate Statement on Academic Freedom). Thus, we recognize that students will have legitimate reason to exercise caution in studying certain subjects. If you have concerns regarding your personal situation, consider postponing taking a course with manifest risks, until you are back on campus or reach out to your academic advisor to find substitute courses. For further information and support, please visit: https://academic.ubc.ca/support-resources/freedom-expression/.

Grievances and Complaints Procedures¶

A student who has a complaint related to this course should follow the procedures summarized below:

  • The student should attempt to resolve the matter with the instructor first. Students may talk first to someone other than the instructor if they do not feel, for whatever reason, that they can directly approach the instructor.

  • If the complaint is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student should go to the departmental chair John Braun at SCI 388, 250-807-8032 or e-mail him at john.braun@ubc.ca.

Grading Practices¶

Requirements to pass the course are listed above How will I be evaluated in this course?.

Faculties, departments, and schools reserve the right to scale grades in order to maintain equity among sections and conformity to University, faculty, department, or school norms. Students should therefore note that an unofficial grade given by an instructor might be changed by the faculty, department, or school. Grades are not official until they appear on a student’s academic record. If you have any questions about how academic integrity applies to this course, please consult with your professor.

Disability Assistance¶

The Disability Resource Centre ensures educational equity for students with disabilities, injuries or illness. If you are disabled, have an injury or illness and require academic accommodations to meet the course objectives, visit our website for more information or contact the DRC at: drc.questions@ubc.ca.

Equity, Human Rights, Discrimination and Harassment¶

UBC Okanagan is a place where every student, staff and faculty member should be able to study and work in an environment that is free from human rights based discrimination and harassment. If you require assistance related to an issue of equity, discrimination or harassment, please contact the Equity Office by phone (250.807.9291) or email (equity.ubco@ubc.ca), your administrative head of unit, and/or your unit’s equity representative.

Health & Wellness¶

At UBC Okanagan health services to students are provided by Health and Wellness. Nurses, physicians and counsellors provide health care and counselling related to physical health, emotional/mental health and sexual/reproductive health concerns. As well, health promotion, education and research activities are provided to the campus community. If you require assistance with your health, please contact Health and Wellness in person (UNC 337) or by email (healthwellness.okanagan@ubc.ca) for more information or to book an appointment.

Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)¶

A safe and confidential place for UBC students, staff and faculty who have experienced sexual violence regardless of when or where it took place. Just want to talk? We are here to listen and help you explore your options. We can help you find a safe place to stay, explain your reporting options (UBC or police), accompany you to the hospital, or support you with academic accommodations. You have the right to choose what happens next. We support your decision, whatever you decide. Visit svpro.ok.ubc.ca or call us at 250.807.9640.

Independent Investigations Office (IIO)¶

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or some other form of sexual misconduct by a UBC community member and you want the Independent Investigations Office (IIO) at UBC to investigate, please contact the IIO. Investigations are conducted in a trauma informed, confidential and respectful manner in accordance with the principles of procedural fairness. You can report your experience directly to the IIO via email: director.of.investigations@ubc.ca or by calling 604.827.2060 or online by visiting investigationsoffice.ubc.ca.

The Hub¶

The Student Learning Hub (LIB 237) is your go-to resource for free math, science, writing, and language learning support. The Hub welcomes undergraduate students from all disciplines and year levels to access a range of supports that include tutoring in math, sciences, languages, and writing, as well as help with study skills and learning strategies. For more information, please visit the Hub’s website (https://students.ok.ubc.ca/student-learning-hub/) or call 250-807-9185.

SAFEWALK¶

Don’t want to walk alone at night? Not too sure how to get somewhere on campus?

Call Safewalk at 250.807.8076.

For more information, visit our website or download the UBC SAFE - Okanagan app.

Attribution¶

The syllabus was constructed and adapted from many other templates and examples. Below is the list of resources I have used to put this syllabus together:

References¶

1

Martha M Rumore. The Course Syllabus: Legal Contract or Operator’s Manual? American Journal of Pharmaceutical Education, 80(10):177, 2016. doi:10.5688/ajpe8010177.

2

Susan A. Ambrose, Michael W. Bridges, Michele DiPietro, Marsha C. Lovett, and Marie K. Norman. How Learning Works: 7 Research-Based Principles for Smart Teaching. Jossey-Bass, San Francisco, CA, 2010. ISBN 978-0-470-48410-4.

Course Schedule