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I really like the course overall. The instructor is great. I love the videos and I think that they are some of the highest quality that I have ever seen on Coursera.

My criticism has to do with the quizzes. I honestly found the quizzes to be ridiculously nitpicky to the point of being almost funny. I'd watch around an hour of videos for a week, read everything, and then I'd have issues with certain mulitiple choice questions. Sometimes for the mutiple choice questions that require a single answer, I think at least two of the options are arguably acceptable, but only one is correct. It gets goofy when the questions overly emphasize definitions of non-technical terms which are stipulatively defined in the videos and then we get quizzed on extremely precise aspects of those definitions. In general, this makes the quizzes a lot harder than they need to be, but in a way that is artificial and doesn't really do anything to help us learn. You could learn this material, be able to do the SQL queries and data cleaning in spreadsheets easily, and then still have an issue with the quizzes. That ends up making a great course into a really frustrating experience.

This course offers a comprehensive introduction to data analysis, covering essential topics like SQL, data cleaning, and resume building. The structured format and practical exercises make complex concepts accessible and engaging. I particularly appreciated the hands-on approach with real-world datasets and the focus on resume writing, which is crucial for job readiness. The course materials are well-organized, and the step-by-step instructions for each topic are clear and easy to follow. The inclusion of best practices and real-life examples enhances the learning experience. However, some sections could benefit from more interactive elements or additional practice exercises to reinforce learning. Overall, it's an excellent resource for anyone starting in data analysis. It provides valuable skills and practical knowledge that can be directly applied to real-world scenarios.

While this is all fascinating, I feel it went by very quickly and that I didn't get enough practice with all the SQL and even spreadsheet functions. I am not confident that I really know all this and will definitely need to review a lot of the videos, probably make flashcards, review the glossary, etc. It's kind of cumbersome, with the templates and stuff, to follow along with the videos while the instructor is talking. This is something that either needs to be viewed more than once (although of course some people learn faster than others, and some come into it with experience others don't have), or needs extra time studying on one's own. I really love it, don't get me wrong, but I don't want to rush myself and then realize I don't really understand, know, and remember everything. So, what I'm saying is, be prepared to spend more time on this section than the previous ones.

It was my understanding that you could accomplish the course of data analyst without any background in this field and I do not find this to be true. There have been many times that I have had to venture out on my own to gain understanding of what is being taught to me and how to complete some of the assignments. This is a great course for someone that has some understanding of spreadsheets to start with. I do recommend this course and and enjoying the challenges in front of me. When I have received my certificate I will truly know how hard I worked to achieve it.

ADDENDUM: Apparently this course is over and I have earned my certificate. I feel like there is so much more for me to learn and I did keep hearing the instructors say there is more that we will get to ... but where and when? There isn't even anything directing me to more courses.

Each course improves upon the last. I am enjoying this certificate. Thank you.

Here are some ideas that I think may add value to the course:

2. Since this course is about cleaning data, I feel providing a dataset to clean would be more valuable as a final course challenge than a multiple choice quiz. It would provide practice, encourage starting to make independent cleaning decisions and be a valuable learning too.

3. My next point is best made with a description. In the Hands On Activity, Week3, we are directed what to do. However, I do not know, for instance, when to decide to use the SELECT DISTINCT statement or the SELECT MIN/MAX statement. Activities like this have been really valuable and I think they would benefit if students could understand more about what to do rather than following instructions.