Is Your Data Working?

Your data should work for you – it’s a resource that can make your work more effective and more efficient. But to get your data to work that way, you first need to do your part. You need to know what questions you can answer with data and how you can make use of those answers. You need to know how to use the data tools that match your purposes, whether those tools be simple spreadsheets or machine learning algorithms. And you need to develop a data mindset that can help you find clarity in chaos.

We’ll get you there

datalab founder Barton Poulson has over 30 years of experience making data accessible and socially-relevant through consulting with small nonprofits, local and national government agencies, and global corporations, as well as decades of university teaching. Through datalab, you can gain insight on every aspect of informed data work, from planning and analysis to implementation and evaluation. We provide human-oriented data science training through free video resources, with practical skills development for entrepreneurs; conceptual courses for business owners, designers, and consultants; and detailed tutorials for researchers and students.

The Foundations of Data Science

Our first collection of videos provides accessible and non-technical overviews of the field of data science and its facets, such as common programming languages and applications, the practical aspects of data sourcing, important mathematical concepts, and common statistical approaches.

The Tools of Data

In working with data, you’ll confront novel problems that require creative solutions. A wide range of tools can help you find these solutions efficiently and accurately. datalab.cc offers tutorials on the most important tools for working constructively with data. Current tools courses include introductory courses on Google Sheets, the open-source data analysis program jamovi, the statistical programming language R, the analytical application SPSS. Archived courses include early versions of the data gathering tool Typeform and the data visualization app RAW.

Free and Open-Source Videos

All of datalab’s videos are free and open-source thanks to a Creative Common Attribution (CC BY) license. This means that anyone can use, share, and adapt the videos however they like – even commercially – as long as they credit the videos to datalab and link to our pages. Several organizations have already done this to great success: freeCodeCamp has compiled and shared our material, now with over 13 million views on YouTube. My CS took the same approach and has over 200,000 views on their YouTube channel. Blossom Academy, a groundbreaking data science bootcamp in Ghana, has also used the videos to prepare their students. We invite you to use these videos to support learning for you and you audience.

It’s Your Turn

With datalab’s comprehensive resources you’ll get the help you need to start finding actionable insights in your data. Whether you’re a CxO, a designer, or a full-time researcher, datalab can help you make the most of the data revolution and make your work more productive, more profitable, and more fulfilling.