Free, introductory online course on data analysis, starting October

The University of Auckland's Department of Statistics is offering a free online course, Data to Insight: An Introduction to Data Analysis.

The course starts on 6 October 2014 and takes three hours per week over nine weeks. It will be led by University of Auckland statistics educator Professor Chris Wild. The course description says:

"Organisations around the world are collecting more data than ever. They are talking about big data, data science, business intelligence, analytics, data mining and data visualisation, and there’s an urgent need for people with the data skills to understand, interpret and communicate this information.

It’s all about using statistical data to predict behaviours and extract insights about the real world. From businesses, governments and service organisations to researchers, data has become everybody’s business.

Data to Insight provides an introduction to statistical data analysis for those new to the subject as well as those wanting a reminder and a fresh perspective.

The course focuses on data exploration and discovery, showing you what to look for in statistical data, however large it may be. We’ll also teach you some of the limitations of data and what you can do to avoid being misled. We use data visualisations designed to teach you these skills quickly, and introduce you to the basic concepts you need to start understanding our world through data.

Our goal is to help you learn to think like a statistician."

Requirements

"This course assumes very little experience with statistical ideas and concepts. The software you will use is powerful yet simple to use. It is already being used with ease by high school students around New Zealand.

You will need to be comfortable thinking in terms of percentages, have basic Microsoft Excel skills, and a Windows or Macintosh computer to download and install our iNZight software."

Further information is available on the FutureLearn website.