Top Data Science Resources for Beginners (And Professionals!)

Data science is booming and it’s clear that the field is offering more than just the hottest careers around the world. Whether you’re a beginner who is just curious about data science or a professional looking to switch careers, this blog post will give you an overview of the best learning resources.

Make no mistake! It takes time and commitment to land a job as a professional data scientist. Companies are always looking for skilled talent and aspirants who have a strong portfolio have more chances of success. Statistics show that the demand for data scientists in India is at an all-time high and companies are paying high salaries to recruit talented professionals. There is no better time to start learning data science than now.

Here is a list of the top data science blogs and websites for learners:

1. Reddit

Reddit is a fantastic resource for learning data science since experts are hanging around and giving tips to beginners there. Many machine learning discussions are going on in the subreddits and you can learn a lot about Deep Learning, Machine Learning, and Artificial Intelligence concepts when you visit those. Check out the r/datasets and r/data science jobs subreddits when you’re browsing.

2. Data Science Central

Data Science Central features a community of supportive learners and professionals that give tips, career advice, and breakdowns of the latest statistical modeling and machine learning techniques. The website has over 100k followers on its Twitter account and posts about 24 times a week. It’s also one of the fastest-growing data science websites online and a leading industry resource.

3. KDNuggets

KDNuggets posts informational resources on Big Data, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and various other  topics. It is also an online platform for data analytics and regularly posts updates on data mining, data science news, industry interviews, details about Great Learning’s best data science courses, and more.

4. Kaggle

Kaggle takes a hands-on approach to mastering the fundamentals of machine learning and data science. The platform offers public datasets, a huge repository of GPUs, and access to published open-source code. From face detection, sentiment analysis, StarTrek tweets, and solving other real-world challenges, it’s a great learning source for beginners. Advanced learners can test their skills with challenging projects online and there are micro-courses offered by the website to which they can apply to. These are useful for improving their skills and the platform gives a great exposure to learners who want to advance in their careers by hosting global  competitions often.

5. Revolution Analytics

Revolution Analytics is a company that designs open-source solutions for enterprises using the R programming framework. The platform runs a blog that has valuable resources on big data visualization, learning about R, and other community resources.

6. Data Camp

Data Camp is a really cool and interactive website where students can learn by watching video clips and doing the exercises hands-on. Live mentor sessions, games, and challenging  programs are what bring out their very best as budding professionals. The platform covers different technology stacks such as R, Python, SQL, Oracle, Scala, Shell, and many other programming languages. Students can master specific skills such as data literacy, marketing algorithms, applied finance, NLP, data visualization, statistics, etc. The code for modeling projects runs straight from the web browser, and no installation is needed.

7. Great Learning

Great Learning is one of the best learning resources for budding data scientists, and for the right reasons. Whether you need a refresher on the basics, want to learn statistics, or master advanced machine learning concepts, you can search in their catalog online and get what you’re looking for. It’s a good website for those who want access to additional material and acquire extra help. You can ask for recommendations from professionals about Great Learning’s best online data science programs when meeting online with mentors. Great Learning also runs PG programs on data  and does collaborations with top universities, making it one of the best go-to platforms for learning.

8. DataVersity

DataVersity introduces learners to the world of business intelligence, analytics, and data science marketing. It goes in-depth about the impacts of legal and regulatory compliance for companies, what to look for when designing intelligent business solutions, semantic data trends, etc. Information about upcoming industry webinars get posted frequently on the platform and the site averages at least 1 post a week.

How to Become a Data Scientist?

The easiest learning path to becoming a data scientist is by applying for a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science/IT or a data science-related discipline. Candidates who are aspiring to become  professionals must have strong problem-solving skills, an aptitude for learning, organization skills, and be able to think creatively as well.

The MIT online data science program  can equip students with the right skills and university programs sometimes neglect the skill sets which are in demand by the industry. But employers often look for a Bachelor’s degree or background in computer science before hiring candidates since data science is about collecting, analyzing, and interpreting data. There are some universities that offer a Master’s program in data science and some of them offer online classes too. Most universities require students to attend on-campus to complete and acquire their Data Science degree. Students often go on to apply for internships after completing these programs and eventually transition into their job roles in companies.

The other way of breaking into the industry is by acquiring the right certifications online and building a strong portfolio. Great Learning has several learning pathways toward becoming a data scientist in India and you can check out the courses catalog for more details.

Conclusion

There are countless resources and online courses on learning data science but the best way to get started is by doing hands-on exercises and building projects. This list of websites will keep you well-informed about the latest concepts, learning trends, and  industry news. If you’re new to data science, it is always recommended to attend a  boot camp in person and learn under the guidance of mentors. After you grasp the fundamentals, you can learn advanced concepts online from the comfort of your home using these platforms. Don’t rush, and as always, ask for feedback once you complete your projects. This will help you improve your skills as a data scientist and show you where you’re going wrong.