Lecture 1 – Introduction

DSC 10, Fall 2022

Welcome to DSC 10! 👋

Agenda

About the instructors 👨‍🏫👨‍🏫👩‍🏫

Come to the Meet the Professors event today from 2-3PM! Meet outside the Hopkins Drive entrance of the San Diego Supercomputer Center. There will be cookies! 🍪

Suraj Rampure (call me Suraj, pronounced “soo-rudge”)

Dr. Puoya Tabaghi (call me Puoya)

Dr. Janine Tiefenbruck (call me Janine)

Course staff

In addition, we have several other course staff members who are here to support you in discussion, office hours, and online.

Learn more about them at dsc10.com/staff.

What is "data science"? 🤔

Everyone seems to have their own definition of data science.

What is "data science"?

Data science is about drawing useful conclusions from data using computation. Throughout the quarter, we'll touch on several aspects of data science:

Data science is more relevant than ever

We've spent the last 2 and a half years looking at graphs like this:

It can be fun, too!

Moving average of the average number of guesses taken for each Wordle word, based on patterns shared on Twitter. (source)

Course logistics

Course website

The course website is your one-stop-shop for all things related to the course.

dsc10.com

This is where lectures, homeworks, labs, discussions, and all other content will be posted. Check it often, and read the syllabus!

Getting set up

In addition, you must also fill out our Beginning of Quarter Survey.

Lecture

Concept Check ✅ – Answer at cc.dsc10.com

How many of the following food items qualify as a sandwich?

A. 0              B. 1              C. 2              D. 3              E. 4             

(We are always going to use the same link for Concept Checks, so you should bookmark it.)

Discussion

Labs

Homeworks and projects

Exams

We will have two exams this quarter.

Readings and resources

A typical week in DSC 10

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
Nothing! 😎 Lecture Lecture Lecture
Discussion
Homework due Lab due

See the Syllabus for more details.

First assignments

Getting help

This is a tough, fast-paced course, but we're here to help you – here's how:

Opportunity: Python bootcamp

Diversity in Data Science, a student organization, is running a one-week Python bootcamp specifically for students in DSC 10 with no prior programming experience.

It starts on Monday. Register by Sunday using the QR code below.

Advice from previous students

At the end of each quarter, we ask DSC 10 students to give advice to future students in the course. Here are some responses:

"Go to office hours! Get a partner for the project even if you don't want to. If you don't understand a topic try the following: go to office hours, ask on [EdStem], check the [readings], look at lecture notes. Start on the assignments early try and finish 2 days early to check your work."

"I would give the advice to attend the discussions and office hours whenever possible, as a lot of the times I found myself learning new things even when I didn't come with a question ready."

"Do NOT fall behind in lectures. It becomes very difficult to catch up on the concepts. Go to your discussion section! Hearing a concept explained once can be difficult to understand so discussion section was extremely helpful."

"GO TO OFFICE HOURS! It's very important to let your voice out. Talk to the professor after lectures, attend office hours, post your questions and ask a question."

Collaboration

Asking questions is highly encouraged!

The limits of collaboration:

We're here for you!

Regardless of your background, you can succeed in this course. No prior programming or statistics experience will be assumed!

Watch on YouTube: We’re All Data Scientists | Rebecca Nugent | TEDxCMU.

Campus resources

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) is a campus unit that offers “short term counseling for academic, career, and personal issues and also offers psychiatry services for circumstances when medication can help with counseling.” If you or anyone you know is ever in need of mental health care, you should contact CAPS.

caps.ucsd.edu

Demo

Little Women (1868)

Concept Check ✅ – Answer at cc.dsc10.com

In Chapter 32, Jo moves to New York alone. Her relationship with which sister suffers the most from this faraway move?

A. Amy

B. Beth

C. Meg

Concept Check ✅ – Answer at cc.dsc10.com

Laurie is a man who marries one of the sisters at the end. Which one?

A. Amy

B. Beth

C. Jo

D. Meg

Next time

On Monday, we'll learn all about cause and effect, before moving on to Python on Wednesday.

Meet the Professors

Come say hi and eat cookies 🍪 with us! Meet us 2-3PM outside the Hopkins Drive entrance of the San Diego Supercomputer Center.