Data Collection and Processing with Python

University of Michigan via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/data-collection-processing-python

Introduction

### Course Review: Data Collection and Processing with Python #### Overview If you're eager to enhance your skills in data collection and processing, Coursera's course titled **Data Collection and Processing with Python** is an excellent choice. This course is structured to guide learners through the intricacies of fetching and processing data from the Internet using Python. With a solid foundation in list comprehensions and the Python requests module, participants will be well-equipped to interact with REST APIs and handle deeply nested data structures effectively. #### Course Structure and Syllabus 1. **Nested Data and Nested Iteration** (Week 1) - The course kicks off with an in-depth focus on complex data structures. Students will engage with video lectures and hands-on activities derived from the Runestone textbook. By week’s end, you'll have mastered the ability to process JSON formatted data, execute nested iterations, and skillfully extract values from nested data sets. This foundational knowledge sets the stage for more advanced concepts in later weeks. 2. **Map, Filter, and List Comprehensions** (Week 2) - The second week delves into advanced data manipulation techniques. Learners will acquire skills in using the map and filter functions to transform and filter data, ensuring they can efficiently store results in new objects. Importantly, this module introduces list comprehensions, allowing for a more streamlined approach to data accumulation and enhancing coding efficiency. 3. **Internet APIs** (Week 3) - The final week centers around the practical application of the Python requests module. Students will learn how to retrieve data from various APIs and understand how to cache requested data for efficiency. This module is particularly significant since it equips learners with the confidence to explore and utilize alternative APIs not covered in the coursework. #### Final Project To consolidate the learning experience, the course culminates in a capstone project where students construct a “tag recommender” for the popular Flickr photo-sharing site. This project not only reinforces the capabilities acquired throughout the course but also offers a tangible outcome that can be showcased in your portfolio. #### Who Should Take This Course? This course is specifically designed for individuals who have already acquired a basic understanding of Python and are looking to further their knowledge in data processing and API interactions. If you are passionate about data science, web scraping, or enhancing your programming skill set, this course will serve as an invaluable resource. #### Recommendation After completing this course, users will find themselves equipped with practical skills that are highly relevant in today’s data-driven world. The hands-on exercises and the final project ensure that learners not only understand theoretical concepts but can also apply them in real-world scenarios effectively. The clarity of instruction and the progression of topics make it user-friendly for both novice and intermediate learners. In summary, I wholeheartedly recommend **Data Collection and Processing with Python** for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of data manipulation with Python, particularly as it relates to leveraging online data sources. Your journey into the bustling world of APIs and data extraction starts here—sign up today and unlock valuable data-driven insights!

Syllabus

Nested Data and Nested Iteration

In week one the video lectures and activities from the Runestone textbook will cover more complex data structures. By the end of this week, you will have learned how to process json formatted data, traverse nested data using nested iteration, and extract values from nested data.

Map, Filter, and List Comprehensions

In week two you will be learning more advanced forms of accumulation. By the end of the week, you will have learned how to use the map and filter functions in combination with functions to transform or filter out data and store the resulting data in a new object. You will have also learned how to accumulate data using a list comprehension.

Internet APIs

In week three you will learn how to request data from the internet using Application Programming Interfaces (APIs). By the end of the week, you will have learned how to access data from a few APIs, cache data that you have requested, and also learned how to read and work with other APIs that were not touched on in the module.

Overview

This course teaches you to fetch and process data from services on the Internet. It covers Python list comprehensions and provides opportunities to practice extracting from and processing deeply nested data. You'll also learn how to use the Python requests module to interact with REST APIs and what to look for in documentation of those APIs. For the final project, you will construct a “tag recommender” for the flickr photo sharing site. The course is well-suited for you if you have already take

Skills

Data Collection Python Programming API Documentation

Reviews

This course presents useful concepts, but as with earlier courses in this specialization, it is geared toward learners who are new to programming. Experienced learners may expect a greater challenge.

Very good course until the final project. There are a lot of bugs that caused me and what seems like a lot of other students to have to spend a great deal of time on it. This time wasn't productive.

This course seemed a bit rushed and less well organized than the prior two.\n\nI would have appreciated more practice especially with RESTful data collection before jumping into the final project

Excellent course which teaches how to process request, extract and process Internet data in a simple and step by step approach. I have gained invaluable skills how to handle large data with Python

Great course for nested data analysis, list comprehension and introduces one into the world of APIs. Lots to learn with special treats in the form of Dr. Resnick's dad jokes (pun intended).