Hello I4GDataCamper,
Congratulations on winning the DataCamp scholarship. You deserve it and more.
We understand that DataCamp is new to some of you, and building a career is not a walk in the park and one of the most important aspects of the career building process is gaining the right knowledge from the right platform. We understand that this can be tough so we have provided this scholarship opportunity to help you.
We also collated a few questions asked frequently by previous cohorts to help you navigate DataCamp and your data career journey here. We hope this blogpost and this ebook help you and make your experience smoother and sweeter.
These are questions you might have about your scholarship and the first few steps you need to take.
What are the first things I need to do after receiving a congratulations email?
As soon as you receive your congratulations email,
Please click on the link in the email to accept the scholarship. It is very important to do this as it tells us you accept the opportunity + the terms and conditions. If you don’t accept the scholarship within the allotted deadline, we will assume you don’t want it. So, the opportunity will be revoked and given to someone else.
Join the Telegram group. The link to this is in the email you will receive after accepting your scholarship. There, you will directly interact with the founders and members of the I4G (organizers) and DataCamp (trainers) team. You will also get to interact with other amazing people in data from all over Africa. Every once in a while, we will invite mentors to share insights and answer questions you might have. Updates will be shared there and you’ll have mentors join the platforms to interact with you.
Please check your emails regularly for an onboarding email to help you join the learning platform (separate from the congratulations and acceptance email) from DataCamp with the title – has invited you to join I4G on DataCamp. Click the button that says – “Join The Group” in that email and follow the instructions to sign up or login.
Take the “Data Literacy Fundamentals” we have recommended.
How do I access the DataCamp platform?
Separate from the congratulations and acceptance email, you will get an email from DataCamp with the title – has invited you to join I4G on DataCamp. Click the button that says – “Join The Group” in that email and follow the instructions to sign up or login. This email will likely be sitting pretty in your inbox, important, spam, promotions, junk, archive, promotions, or one of your folders. Please check every single one first before you send an email or share a complaint on the Telegram group or via email. Check very very very well (every single folder). It is important to “Join the I4G Group” on DataCamp (not only Telegram) so you can access the courses for free.
If you’re having troubles signing in with your invite link, make sure you use Google Chrome, clear your cache and browser history. If it’s saying your email is claimed, sign in instead. Click on forget password if you cannot remember it.
What if I’m asked to pay for DataCamp?
Please do not pay for anything. I4G and DataCamp have come together to ensure you access these courses for free, so please do not pay. If you are getting a prompt to pay, please send an email to us and we will help you sort it out if you are a successful beneficiary of the program.
What is the duration of the program?
You have access for six months but this is only guaranteed if you have completed at least 1 course, this is why we recommended the “Data Literacy Fundamentals” it only takes 10 hours. If you’re a very active learner, you would have the opportunity to extend your access for a longer period.
What course should I start with?
We recommend that you start with the Data Literacy Fundamentals, it only takes 10 hours and it is an intro to all the tracks available. So, it will help you get a feel of what each course means and gauge your interest to make a choice on the best track for you. More importantly, read this book, it will give you clarity on how to start building a career in data and give you a better idea of where to start.
Also, there are two key certification courses on DataCamp – Data Science and Data Analyst. You can pick either one and follow the track to get certified and access jobs on the DataCamp platform. Read more here.
Can I defer my scholarship?
No you cannot. If we notice a month of inactivity, your scholarship will be revoked and given to someone else who wants it more than you do right now.
We recommend you at least accept the invitation to join the I4G group on DataCamp to lock down your slot. You also need to be active at least once every week or two. You will have access for the next 6 months but if you don’t lock down your slot, it’ll be given to someone else.
Do I need a laptop?
You don’t need a laptop to start the course, however, you will benefit from having a laptop to practice what you learn.
You can download the DataCamp app on your phone to learn the theoretical aspects of the course but you definitely need a laptop to practice. Most times your progress on the app syncs with your progress on web. If you notice a disparity, please contact DataCamp support here and use the subject – I4G DataCamp.
I don’t have a laptop, what should I do?
We noticed from past cohorts, that some people leveraged the laptops of their friends, family, cyber cafes, peers in the training, etc. to help them practice what they are learning. We understand how uncomfortable this might be so we have a system for choosing laptop beneficiaries and it is often done in partnership with trusted organizations to prevent fraud.
People who show dedication to their learning will be considered when choosing program beneficiaries for laptops and jobs that pay (because they have shown commitment). We will advise you to join the I4G Network, so you are in the loop when opportunities arise. If you are not part of our network, join here and follow us on Instagram @ingressive4good so you don’t miss this update, when we make an announcement.
If you are already a part of the DataCamp program, apply for a laptop here.
Where will the training take place?
The training will take place online on the DataCamp platform. All the classes are available to you on the platform already. Once you join the I4G group on datacamp.com, you can determine how fast or slow you want to go. You could see the course and learning modules. It is self-paced, so there is no schedule. You get to determine your schedule. The training ends in 6 months. This means if you have not started by the first month or you have not finished by the sixth month, your scholarship would be revoked and someone from the waiting list will replace you. Please take the training seriously. There are so many rewards for people who complete their training on time and in flying colors.gave you automatic access to the training resources.
How do I start learning?
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What are the benefits of joining the Telegram group?
We understand that you would need help so we created this group so you can ask us questions easily and learn from the answers we give others too. We also understand the importance of community when building a career so this group provides that too.
The link to the Telegram group is in the email you will receive after accepting your scholarship. There, you will directly interact with the founders and members of the I4G (organizers) and DataCamp (trainers) team. You will also get to interact with other amazing people in data from all over Africa. Every once in a while, we will invite mentors to share insights and answer questions you might have. Updates will be shared there and you’ll have mentors join the platforms to interact with you.
Why was I removed from the scholarship program?
You were removed because you were inactive. Also, if we flag that you are under 18, not African or not living in Africa, we might remove you as you do not meet our mission parameters. We remove inactive participants to make room for people who are on the waiting list, who want this badly, who are ready to start immediately, and fit perfectly into our parameters.
We really hope we can be of value to you in the future. Until then, you can join the I4G network here if you are an African interested in tech or access other opportunities available here.
Ps: Once removed, you will not be able to apply for our future I4GDataCamp scholarships.
What is the selection criteria?
We have selection criteria and selection committee for all the opportunities we provide. This is to ensure we have a fair selection process.
Some for this scholarship are;
Age: You have to be within the 18-35 years old to get this scholarship.
Nationality: We provide opportunities for Africans only.
Availability: The number of hours you can dedicate to the course is important, we want to be sure you have the time to make good use of it within the period its accessible.
Affordability: We provide courses for those who cannot afford them, if you can afford to pay for the course, we would prefer to pick someone who can’t.
Quality of application: The way you answer the questions matter. Tell us how you want to apply the knowledge gained from the course. We receive thousands of applications and for you to be selected, your application needs to standout.
Is there a certificate for courses that do not involve coding?
No, there isn’t, but you can get Statements of Accomplishment for completing the theory courses.
I am unable to join the I4G 22/23 on DataCamp since the link has expired, are there any other ways to join?
No, the link has expired. You would have to be on the look out for other opportunities, or send us an email.
These are questions you might have about your building your data career.
How do I access the DataCamp platform?
Separate from the congratulations and acceptance email, you will get an email from DataCamp with the title – has invited you to join I4G on DataCamp. Click the button that says – “Join The Group” in that email and follow the instructions to sign up or login. This email will likely be sitting pretty in your inbox, important, spam, promotions, junk, archive, promotions, or one of your folders. Please check every single one first before you send an email or share a complaint on the Telegram group or via email. Check very very very well (every single folder). It is important to “Join the I4G Group” on DataCamp (not only Telegram) so you can access the courses for free.
If you’re having troubles signing in with your invite link, make sure you use Google Chrome, clear your cache and browser history. If it’s saying your email is claimed, sign in instead. Click on forget password if you cannot remember it.
How do I log back in to DataCamp?
Visit www.datacamp.com and sign in with the email you registered with.
If you’re having troubles signing in, make sure you use Google Chrome, clear your cache and browser history. If it’s saying your email is claimed, sign in instead. Click on forget password if you cannot remember it.
Do I need to join the I4G group if I already have a DataCamp account?
Yes! You need to. It is the only way you can get free access to the workspace.
Ensure that the account you have has the same email with the email you used to apply for a scholarship. If you’re having troubles signing in with your invite link, make sure you use Google Chrome, clear your cache and browser history. If it’s saying your email is claimed, sign in instead. Click on forget password if you cannot remember it.
I forgot my DataCamp password, how do I log back in?
Please click “forgot password” and reset your password. Make sure you’re using the same email you received the congratulatory email through.
What if I’m asked to pay for DataCamp?
Please do not pay for anything. I4G and DataCamp have come together to ensure you access these courses for free, so please do not pay. If you are getting a prompt to pay, please send an email to us and we will help you sort it out if you are a successful beneficiary of the program.
How do I know which course to start with?
We recommend that you start with the Data Science for Everyone course. But more importantly, read this book, it will give you clarity on how to start building a career in data and give you a better idea of where to start.
You can also take all the “… for Everyone” courses to get a feel of what each course means and gauge your interest.
Also, there are two key certification courses on DataCamp – Data Science and Data Analyst. You can pick either one and follow the track to get certified and access jobs on the DataCamp platform. Read more here.
In the congratulatory email, we advised that newbies take the “Data Science for Everyone” course. This isn’t compulsory especially if you already have basic knowledge of Data Science. After this, you can take any course available on the Dashboard depending on your interest or follow the recommendations in the ebook.
What are XPs and Leaderboards?
XP is a way of measuring your engagement within DataCamp. It calculates automatically based on courses, exercises, or other content that you complete. It helps you track your progress, see how you’re doing.
A leaderboard shows your progress relative to other people in the I4G group, and basically challenges you and gingers you to do more. The Leaderboard allows you to see how many XPs you earn compared to your fellow learners. It also shows the number of courses and chapters completed per learner.
Note: To better measure your progress, hints and requested solutions will reduce or remove your earned XP.
Can I take more than 1 course concurrently on the DataCamp platform?
Yes you can.
You can enroll for only one track at a time but it doesn’t prevent you taking courses on other tracks. The system is structured to recommend courses for you when you complete a course. However, its flexible. You can also unenroll from one course and switch to another.
However, we advise you to pace yourself. Don’t enrol for too many courses at the same time. We recommend a maximum of 3 courses per time but you will get the most from taking one course at a time and progressing at a focused rate.
Is it possible to download the slides and videos on DataCamp?
Yes, there is. You can watch a detailed tutorial here.
What do assignments mean and what happens if I miss them?
Assignments are tasks that members must complete within a given timeframe on DataCamp. DataCamp Assignments allow you to complete a specific course, chapter, track, challenge, assessment, project, or gain XP. It is a great way to progress and show your progress to the admin.
What happens if I miss my deadline?
You will miss out on the XP attached to the assignment. A new deadline cannot be set, you may just have to continue learning.
What does it mean for an admin to assign me a course?
This is simply a suggestion from your Admin (DataCamp and I4G team). This suggestion is to give you a good and easy course to start. However, it’s a suggestion and you don’t have to do it. Another reason why a course would be assigned to you is to help retain access to DataCamp Donates, you need to complete a course to do this. Usually, the “Data Science for Everyone” course is assigned, this is because it takes only 2 hours to complete.
Can I retry assessments and the coding challenge?
Yes, you can! You are only allowed to start a new assessment if you have less than 2 completed assessments in the last 7 days. Your best attempt is what would count in your final assessment and certification.
How do I change my name on my certificate?
You can do this by editing your profile details. We have provided a guide for you here
I took the Data Science for Everyone course but on the dashboard, it indicates that I missed it?
This means that you didn’t complete the assessment before the deadline. But you are fine, please continue with other courses.
How can I prepare for certification for Data Science and Data Analysis (using R or Python):
A well-detailed article has been written to help you prepare effectively for this aspect of your course. You would also learn how to prepare for your case study.
Can I build a portfolio on DataCamp platform?
Of course! All you need to do is complete your courses, get certified and upload your work to workspace.
What is a DataCamp workspace?
Workspace is an online IDE (integrated development environment) that allows you to write code and analyze data collaboratively and share your data insights. Workspace comes with ready-to-use data sets to analyze, making it the perfect tool to go from learning data science to doing data science.
Workspace supports R and Python, with SQL support coming soon and is available on any operating system: Workspace is in an in-browser tool, requiring zero installation and zero downloads. You can get started analyzing data in under 5 seconds.
These are questions you might have about building a career in data through this scholarship.
I am a newbie in data, where do I start?
That’s okay. Read this book, it will give you clarity on how to start building a career in data and give you a better idea of where to start.
How do I decide what data path I want to take?
Our Lead Data Analyst shared her journey into becoming a Data analyst and she also taught the different aspects of data such as data science, data analysis, data visualization etc. We packaged all that and made it a book, read it here.
When you sign up following the invite link in the email we sent, on your Dashboard you’ll see Tracks > Career Tracks. Pick the one that resonates with you. We also recommend that you take the “Data Literacy for Everyone” course first. If you need help, read the pinned message on Telegram.
Can I build a portfolio on DataCamp platform?
Of course! All you need to do is complete your courses, get certified and upload your work to workspace.
What applications (or tools) will be useful as I start?
Some very useful ones are; Excel and Google spreadsheets, Power Bi, Tableau, SQL and Python. These would make your learning process a lot easier.
How can I prepare for certification for Data Science and Data Analysis (using R or Python):
A well-detailed article has been written to help you prepare effectively for this aspect of your course. You would also learn how to prepare for your case study.
I want to build a career as a Data Analyst, what courses should I take?
On the DataCamp dashboard, there are 4 career tracks for Data Analysts; Power Bi, R, Python and SQL. You can read more about this here. Ensure you are logged into DataCamp on the browser before clicking that link or go to “Learn” on your dashboard and search “career tracks”. You’ll see the results.
or Login to DataCamp and click on “Custom Tracks”, then click on Data Analyst.
Or click this link on the browser where you are logged in to DataCamp and click “Enroll in track” follow the course roadmap suggested. There are about 54 courses which would take about 195 hours to finish. Then you can attempt the certification on DataCamp and if you pass, you’ll get access to the DataCamp job pool.
I want to build a career in Data Scientist, what courses should I take?
Login to DataCamp and click on “Custom Tracks”, then click on Data Scientist.
or click this link on the browser where you are logged in to DataCamp and click “Enroll in track” follow the course roadmap suggested. There are about 68 courses which would take about 270 hours to finish. Then you can attempt the certification on DataCamp and if you pass, you’ll get access to the DataCamp job pool.
What courses should I take if I am looking to learn Data Visualization?
We advise that you take the theory courses. You can start with “Data Visualisation on Spreadsheets” course. You can also learn Power BI, it’s a great start for visualizations.
What courses do you recommend to build a career as an enterprise Azure Data Analyst
We would advise the following;
Spreadsheet Fundamentals (5 courses for 3 weeks)
Intermediate Spreadsheet (4 courses for 3 weeks)
SQL Fundamentals (5 courses for 1 month)
SQL for Business Analyst (4 courses for 1 month)
Data Analyst in Power Bi (6 courses for 2 months)
I want to build a career in Data Engineer, what courses should I take?
We advise that you take the Data Engineering for Everyone course and the Data Analytics for Everyone course for a good start. There is currently no career track for Data Engineering but we have some useful resources on Data Engineering here. Ensure you are logged into DataCamp on the browser before clicking that link or go to “Learn” on your dashboard and search “engineering”. You’ll see the results. Start with Data Engineering for Everyone and then Introduction to Data Engineering courses. Then, login to DataCamp and click on “Custom Tracks”, then click on Data Engineer.
or click this link on the browser where you are logged in to DataCamp and click “Enroll in track” follow the course roadmap suggested. There are about 44 courses which would take about 169 hours to finish. Then you can attempt the certification on DataCamp and if you pass, you’ll get access to the DataCamp job pool.
Are there courses to learn mathematics for Machine Learning?
Yes, there are. A good place to start is the Machine Learning for Everyone course. You can learn all courses and projects on Machine Learning here. Ensure you are logged into DataCamp on the browser before clicking that link or go to “Learn” on your dashboard and search “Machine Learning”. You’ll see the results.
I need a mentor or a guide, someone I can ask questions even if it’s a self-paced learning platform
On the Telegram group we invite thought leaders in the data space from all over the world to share their experience and knowledge with you and you can ask them questions personally.
You can also reach out to your fellow I4G DataCamp Scholars on the Telegram channel for help and to form study groups.
You can join the data-focused Twitter spaces, webinars and IG live we host with data thought-leaders and professionals.
You can join the Global DataCamp Slack Community to speak with learners and instructors around the world.
DataCamp is working on a way for more generous DataCampers like Carl to donate their time to mentoring the most active DataCamp Donates learners at the later date. No promises, but we would love to make it possible.
How recognized is the DataCamp course? Would it help me secure a job easily?
It is well recognised, especially the certifications. DataCamp has worked with thousands of companies to train their employees. Recently, DataCamp launched a new recruit platform, which is focused on providing jobs and in the short time that it was announced, over 200 companies in the US have posted jobs on the platform.
Also, DataCamp is the leading interactive learning platform for data science and analytics, today announced it has ranked 94th on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500™, a ranking of the 500 fastest-growing technology, media, telecommunications, life sciences, fintech, and energy tech companies in North America now in its 26th year.
However, it is more important to learn the skills, the skills will make way for you irrespective of the reocognition of the company.
Can I add my statement of accomplishment/certification on LinkedIn?
Yes, DataCamp and Ingressive for Good would be glad if you do this! You can also read this article to learn how to share your accomplishment on LinkedIn. Don’t forget to tag us (Ingressive for Good and DataCamp) on LinkedIn, we want to celebrate with you!
We hope this post makes your journey to building a thriving career in data easier. If you have any other questions for us? Let’s know in the comments.