5 Programming Resources for Developing Data Scientists

Written by Kevin Liew on 04 Jun 2019
44,347 Views • Miscellaneous

At this point, we all know that data science has become one of the most exciting career paths in the business world. Just about every company uses data to improve and grow their business, and there’s currently a shortage of talented data professionals who have the skills to crunch and leverage those numbers.

While you often do need an advanced degree to become a data scientist, you certainly don’t need one to explore and break into the field. There are a ton of online courses that can help you advance your data science skills.

Sometimes, however, the amount of information can be overwhelming, and it’s difficult to know what information is reliable so you’ll want to be sure to utilize trusted brands such as Udemy Data Science program or similar online learning platforms.

If you’re not sure where to start, try these top five trusted resources for developing data scientists.

1. Talks for Data Scientists

Do you learn best by watching others? A lot of the information for up-and-coming data scientists is in written or tutorial form, not top-level concepts that can help you really grasp the possibilities of this exciting field. These TED Talks don’t teach technical skills, but they’re interesting, high-level discussions of data science topics from industry thought leaders. These videos are a great way to get started on your data science journey as they’ll help you understand the basics of why and how organizations use data.

2. Blogs for Programmers

You can learn a lot from programmers and data scientists who have taken the time to share their expertise on a blog. Of course, anyone can start a blog so you have to be careful about which bloggers you follow. This list gives you ten great options that can help you learn more about a range of data science-related topics, from how-to guides to industry trends.

3. Data Science Meet Ups Across the Nation

More and more people are becoming interested in the field of data science.  Much of this interest is due to tech and apps highlighting how data and statistics are influencing our daily life.

While a lot of the people who attend these gatherings may be fellow newbies, there’s also likely to be a number of people who are actively working in the industry and want to network, share their knowledge, and simply geek out about the work they do. You can learn so much from meeting knowledgeable people in person, and attending one of these meetups could even connect you with a mentor or another resource to help you grow and learn.

4. Online Learning Programs

We live in the golden age of self-directed learning. Today, you never have to set foot in a classroom to learn essential skills like programming that you need to succeed in the data science field. eLearning courses are extremely convenient, often inexpensive, and allow you to try out a subject to make sure it’s something you’re interested in pursuing. Motivated students can gain all the skills they need from self-directed online learning programs and tutorials. For people interested in breaking into data science, learning the Python programming language is a good place to start.

5. Free Online Datasets

To become a competent data expert, you actually have to wrangle some data. Fortunately, you don’t need access to a vast amount of organizational data. There are lots of free datasets available online that you can play around with and use for practice. All government data is now available, meaning you could learn from the national datasets that interest you the most. Getting your hands dirty with some datasets is a great way to explore the field of data science and make sure that a career working with large, unstructured data sets is something you want long-term.

Invest in Your Future Career

These days, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to learn about data science. The barriers for entry into this in-demand field are slowly dissolving and you have all the tools you need to succeed available to you. If you’re on the fence about pursuing this career path, you also have the opportunity to learn more about the field before you decide to move forward.

Take advantage of the many resources online and learn as much as you can on your own before you think about any serious investment in your data science education. With that said, money you spend on online courses or degree programs is often money well-spent in the long run. Invest in your future career and be proactive with your learning, and you’re likely to do quite well in today’s data-driven world.

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