Bridging the Gap: Teaching Data Analytics to Business Students using R

Business curricula are increasingly offering data analytics courses. However, training business students in data-analytic thinking and exposing them to new software requires balancing technical skills with domain-specific knowledge in ways that keep students motivated. In-class observations, student evaluations, and student reflections were used to develop and iteratively improve a data analytics course that overcomes these challenges. A survey and retrospective interviews supplemented these to formulate the lessons learned presented in this paper. These include using the software R as a Blackbox application and creating an atmosphere of collaborative learning. The use of relevant datasets and examples also appealed to students’ intrinsic motivation for their subject.