If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the week of December 17-21 2018. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.

Classes

There will be one two hour lecture each week and one two hour workshop in the computing laboratory.   You are expected to attend both classes as they provide complimentary learning activities each week. In practical classes you will write code and experiment with various data sets; in lectures we will discuss the methods you are learning and how the results of your analysis can be interpreted. 

Textbooks

We will refer to the following texts during the semester:

Introduction to Data Science A Python Approach to Concepts, Techniques and Applications Igual, Laura, Seguí, Santi (electronic edition available via MQ Library)

Computational and Inferential Thinking: The Foundations of Data Science By Ani Adhikari and John DeNero (available on GitBooks)

You will be given readings from these and other sources each week. 

Technology Used and Required

We will make use of Python 3.6 for data analysis, including a range of modules such as scikit-learn, pandas, numpy that provide additional features.  These can all be installed via the Anaconda Python distribution.   We will discuss this environment and the installation process in the first week of classes. 

We will use Jupyter Notebook as a way of developing and presenting the analysis results.  This is included in the full Anaconda distribution.

Project Work

A major part of the assessment in this unit is based on a project that you will complete in groups.  This will allow you to explore the techniques you are learning in class in a real-world data analysis exercise. 

The indicative list of topics is shown here, this is subject to change based on feedback from the class.  

Following a review of the first offering last year, there are a number of changes in this offering. 

• More of an emphasis on machine learning including supervised and unsupervised learning methods
• In-term tests replaced with an end of semester exam; feedback from students and staff indicated that having two in-term tests was harder to manage and distracted from the project and practical work in semester.
• The final exam is worth 40% of the final mark which is more than the Quizzes were worth last year, to balance this the marks for the Portfolio and Project have been reduced.  This hopefully gives a bit more balance to the assessment with contributions from three main components.

COMP257 will be graded according to the following general descriptions of the letter grades as specified by Macquarie University; following the general description is additional description of the standards specific to this unit. 

High Distinction (HD, 85-100): provides consistent evidence of deep and critical understanding in relation to the learning outcomes. There is substantial originality and insight in identifying, generating and communicating competing arguments, perspectives or problem solving approaches; critical evaluation of problems, their solutions and their implications; creativity in application as appropriate to the discipline.

In the context of this unit, the Portfolio and Project tasks provide an opportunity to show your deep and critical understanding of the methods of Data Science in this unit. An HD student will show some originality and insight in these reports; they will show that they have mastered the techniques we have covered and have gone beyond these to discover new methods.

Distinction (D, 75-84): provides evidence of integration and evaluation of critical ideas, principles and theories, distinctive insight and ability in applying relevant skills and concepts in relation to learning outcomes. There is demonstration of frequent originality in defining and analysing issues or problems and providing solutions; and the use of means of communication appropriate to the discipline and the audience.

In the context of this unit, a D student will display some integration and evaluation in the Portfolio and Project reports - these will go beyond being a simple account of a data analysis, they will make it clear that the student has mastered the techniques and methods covered in the unit and understands how and why they are used together. 

Credit (Cr, 65-74): provides evidence of learning that goes beyond replication of content knowledge or skills relevant to the learning outcomes. There is demonstration of substantial understanding of fundamental concepts in the field of study and the ability to apply these concepts in a variety of contexts; convincing argumentation with appropriate coherent justification; communication of ideas fluently and clearly in terms of the conventions of the discipline.

In the context of this unit, a Cr. student shows good performance in all assessment tasks, in particular the portfolio and project reports will show their complete understanding of the tools that they have learned to use.

Pass (P, 50-64): provides sufficient evidence of the achievement of learning outcomes. There is demonstration of understanding and application of fundamental concepts of the field of study; routine argumentation with acceptable justification; communication of information and ideas adequately in terms of the conventions of the discipline. The learning attainment is considered satisfactory or adequate or competent or capable in relation to the specified outcomes.

In the context of this unit,  the P student shows good performance in most assessment tasks and is able to complete the major parts of all portfolio notebook tasks satisfactorily.  The student is able to complete an analysis using the tools we have learned with some guidance.

Fail (F, 0-49): does not provide evidence of attainment of learning outcomes. There is missing or partial or superficial or faulty understanding and application of the fundamental concepts in the field of study; missing, undeveloped, inappropriate or confusing argumentation; incomplete, confusing or lacking communication of ideas in ways that give little attention to the conventions of the discipline.