The Coleridge Initiative

TRAINING

Providing professionals the opportunity to develop key computer science and data science skill sets to improve public policy through training programs and research.

TRAINING PROGRAM

The Applied Data Analytics programs are targeted at government agency staff. It provides training in core data analytics techniques by working on specific projects using real-world micro-data. The projects are built around pre-built Jupyter notebooks which provide project "recipes" that can be customized for specific use cases as well as applied to later projects in participants’ agencies.

The first six programs were partially sponsored by the US Census Bureau, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation, the Overdeck Family Foundation, and the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. The thematic focus of each program was: Criminal Justice, Welfare programs, High Need Populations, and Economic Development. Over 250 government agency staff and researchers participated in these four training programs. Here is what they had to say:

"...knowing what's possible has helped tremendously in influencing the reality of our projects"

"I also co-authored a journal article on predicting farms that would need to apply for new loans which wouldn’t have happened without the machine learning skills I learned in the class."

"My colleague and I have found several ways to use Python to make our work processes more efficient."

"...hearing the topics in the class taught by experts felt as though a veil was lifted."

"I've been able to use tools to help streamline my work and to identify opportunities to utilize machine learning in the City."

Core Curriculum

The general format is 10 training days grouped into 2 modules of one week each. There is a primary focus on a different topic each day, as outlined below. In addition, participants are grouped in teams of up to five members to work through an analytic project that answers a specific research question formulated by the team.

Week 1
Project scoping Exploratory data analysis Using Databases Record Linkage Intro to Machine Learning

Week 2
Machine Learning models Model interpretation & evaluation Privacy & confidentiality Project work

The following projects are examples from previous programs.

Addressing Recidivism: Technical Violations

Mommy Don't Go: Recidivism of Mothers

From Prosecuted to Job Recruited: Employment after Prison

UPCOMING TRAINING PROGRAMS

Washington, DC - Fall 2018

APPLICATION CLOSED

The Coleridge Initiative’s program in Applied Data Analytics provides participants the opportunity to choose their own projects or build on projects completed in select earlier programs. The focus of this program will be working with confidential data that examine the labor market and other outcomes of high needs populations, such as ex-offenders or welfare recipients.

Application: Rolling

1st Admission Decision: September 15

SQL & Python tutorials: Complete by October 29

In-person training in Washington, DC

Module 1: October 31 - November 2 & 5-6
Module 2: December 5-7 & 10-11

Remote Presentations: TBD

Columbus, OH - Winter 2019

APPLY

The Ohio State University is hosting the Winter, 2019 Coleridge Initiative Applied Data Analytics training program, sponsored by the Overdeck Family Foundation. Participants will work in teams to define and complete a project related to Transitions in Education and Workforce. The program will provide up-to-date perspective on the use of administrative data for policy analysis, and hands-on instruction of using micro data in SQL and Python for the following tasks: data management, record linkage, data visualization, and machine learning.

Application: Rolling

1st Admission Decision: December 15

SQL & Python tutorials: Complete by February 1

In-person training in Columbus, OH

Module 1: February 6-8
Module 2: March 13-15

Remote Presentations: TBD

Washington, DC - Fall 2019

Application coming soon

Application: Rolling

1st Admission Decision: September 13

SQL & Python tutorials: Complete by October 28

In-person training in College Park, DC

Module 1: October 30 - November 1 & 4-5
Module 2: December 5-7 & 10-11

Remote Presentations: TBD

Past Programs

Applied Data Analytics - Criminal Justice 2017

The Coleridge Initiative's Applied Data Analytics training program focused on criminal justice.

Full program details and resources available here

Applied Data Analytics - Social Benefit Programs 2017

The Coleridge Initiative's Applied Data Analytics training program focused on social benefit programs.

Full program details and resources available here

Applied Data Analytics - High Need Populations 2017

The Coleridge Initiative's Applied Data Analytics training program focused on high need populations.

Full program details and resources available here

Applied Data Analytics - Local Economic Development and Job Creation 2018

The Coleridge Initiative's Applied Data Analytics training program focused on Local Economic Development and Job Creation in Kansas City, Missouri.

Full program details and resources available here