So far in this topic we’ve explored different types of data skills:
- Data scout
- Data analyst
- Engineer
- Designer or visualiser
- Storyteller.
And we’ve also explored the different stages of the Data Pipeline, which provides a methodology for working with data from start to finish (although as we have just seen, it’s rarely as straightforward as this):
- Define your question
- Find data to help explore it.
- Get your data
- Verify it
- Clean it
- Analyse it
- Present your findings.
You should have an idea of how the different data skills fit into the different stages of the pipeline too. And perhaps, from doing the Data Skills exercise, you have an idea of where your own strengths and weaknesses are.
There are a plethora of ways to learn new skills and tools to help you on your data journey. Below I’ve listed some resources that you might find helpful, but these are by no means exhaustive. And it’s worth remembering that often the best way to learn a new data skill is to start with a problem that you already have, and then working out what you need to help take it forward.
See Also:
Below you’ll find some useful tools and resources to help you level up your data skills. Some are online courses, some are meet-up groups, just to give you an idea of what’s available. The best way is, of course, to look online!
- School of Data – Esstentials and fundamentals for exploring data.
- Pick N Mix – a collection of online videos introducing new data tools and resources.
- Code Academy – Free online coding courses.
- Code Your Future – A coding school for refugees and disadvantaged people.
- PyData – a community and meetup group for developers and users of open source tools.
- Her Plus Data – A community for people who identify as female who work with to support one another and talk data.