💻 Week 01 - Class Roadmap (90 min)

2025/26 Autumn Term

Author

Dr. Ghita Berrada

Published

30 September 2025

Welcome to the first seminar/lab class of DS101A.

Before we start covering the most technical aspects of data science, we want to take a step back and think about the bigger picture. That is why on 🧑‍🏫 Week 01, we asked you to do two things:

  1. Read the indicative reading about the idea of the Quantified Self.

  2. Try and answer a series of questions about the indicative reading (see Syllabus):

    1. What is personal data?
    2. What is the “quantified self”?
    3. What is the main purpose/goal of the “quantified self”?
    4. What do you think about this notion of “quantified self”?
    5. What are the challenges/issues related to this notion?

In this class, we will discuss your notes on the indicative readings of week 1 and further expand the discussion of the notions of “quantified self”/personal self with the help of additional in-class readings.

Step 01 - Quantified self and its purpose (15 min)

  1. In the class, form groups of 3/4. Each group is given a set of post-its and based on the readings, should use them to answer the following questions:
    • How can you best define the notion of “quantified self”?
    • What is the goal of this concept?
  2. Each group will stick the post-its on the sheet that corresponds to the question answered (class teachers will have prepared sheets corresponding to each of the questions and have stuck them to the board).
    Class teachers will facilitate a discussion with the wider group and share their expert opinion based on the collected answers.

Step 02 - Perception of Quantified Self (20 min)

  1. Each group is given a set of post-its and based on prepared coursework, should use them to answer the following questions:
    • What do you think about the notion of “quantified self”?
    • What challenges/issues do you see with this notion?
  2. Each group will stick the post-its on the sheet that corresponds to the question answered (class teachers will have prepared sheets corresponding to the question and have stuck them to the board).
    Class teachers will facilitate a discussion with the wider group and share their expert opinion based on the collected answers.

🍵 Break (10 min)

Step 03 - Quantified Self/Personal data: new perspectives (45 min)

  1. Form new groups of three:
  2. Each group will be assigned a different new article (e.g by lottery) and will need to answer the following questions:
    • What is the article about? What are the main ideas?
    • Do you find the article convincing and does it change your perception of the notion of “quantified self”? Why?
      Class teachers will facilitate a discussion with the wider group and share their expert opinion based on each group’s input

Also:

  • Discuss: how did you organise your notes? Can you, as a group, come up with best practices for note-taking?
Note

Later in this course, you will learn how to create a bibliography. For now, keep using your favourite note-taking app and share your notes with your group.

Update post-class: List of articles read/discussed in part 3 of the class

🔎 Going further on the quantified self theme…