September 13, 2022

Few courses are more foundational to data analytics than Dealing with Data and Introduction to Python Programming, which is why it is one of the first courses in the MS Data Analytics & Business Computing (MSDABC) program’s yearlong curriculum. Originally developed as a teaching programming language because it reads almost like English, Python has an ease of use and clarity that most other programming languages cannot match, especially when considered for use in the classroom. Students can pick it up relatively quickly compared to other languages and spend more time learning how to employ it for specific applications. 

Since Python is widely used in professional programming settings across virtually all application domains, it is likely to be the language of choice for anyone going into the data analytics field. Because it’s so versatile, a vibrant ecosystem of developers, third-party software tools, and additional instructional materials exists for students to enrich their knowledge and enhance their skills and marketability. 

Clinical Assistant Professor Manuel Arriaga has been a part of the NYU Stern community for almost two decades, and before that he taught at Cambridge University, where he won an excellence in teaching award. He describes himself as a “self-taught geek” who can relate to the difficulties experienced by complete beginners in programming.

That empathy, coupled with his enthusiasm for the MSDABC program and its students, makes what could be a dry, technical course a popular one. As Arriaga explained, “Teaching in the MSDABC program is one of my favorite teaching experiences. I feel there is a special excitement and ‘buzz’ in the classroom that just isn't there in most other teaching settings. Part of it most likely stems from the students being in New York City for a limited period of time, but I believe there is something else to it that I can't quite put my finger on. I definitely notice a difference in terms of how engaged, vibrant, and motivated the class is. 

“That the program effectively ‘bridges’ China and US is also likely to play a role: we are bringing together students and faculty from the two nations that are effectively leading many of the most exciting technological developments of our age, so it is not surprising that one feels this ‘buzz.’

“It is also worthwhile noting that I am myself very much a foreigner in the US. A native of Lisbon, Portugal, even after 18 years at a very diverse NYU, in a variety of different capacities, I still very much feel like the US is ‘abroad.’ Taken in combination, these aspects make teaching the students coming from the joint program between NYU Stern and NYU Shanghai a particularly joyful and enriching experience. In a sense, we are all coming from elsewhere to meet at NYU's NYC campus, where our different backgrounds and trajectories have serendipitously brought us together.”

Though Dealing with Data and Introduction to Python Programming is an intensive course, only five weeks long, Arriaga makes a point of constructing in-class exercises that are engaging and topical so that students have the chance to practice putting their learning into action. “I try hard to avoid class time becoming a long monologue about technical concepts or where students merely watch me code on the projector. Instead, we have multiple, small, now-do-it-yourself exercises throughout class. After each of these exercises has been completed, students themselves explain to the rest of the class how they solved it. Since coding skills per se are somewhat hard to make into something ‘fun,’ I try to inject some lighter moments by having students shout out the data we will use in the examples developed in class. This might take the form of telling us which favorite movie they want us to search for using an API of movie reviews, or simply creating a list of text strings naming the students’ favorite cocktails.”

According to the evaluations students registered after the class concluded this summer, the professor succeeds admirably in creating a dynamic class environment. Yuting Qian, MSDABC ’23, said,  "I think he's helpful and quite patient in teaching some very foundational concepts. For students who haven't learned Python before, his teaching style helps them understand what Python is, why we use Python and how to use different packages of Python to achieve specific functions. His assignments are also appropriate for us to understand the course material."

The class is designed to accommodate varying levels and backgrounds, including both beginners and more advanced Python users. For students with prior background in Python or for those interested in an extra challenge, Arriaga offers the opportunity to take on a supplemental project outside of class, which includes his personalized one-on-one mentorship that extends even beyond the end of the course. This is just one example of Arriaga’s dedication to his students and his commitment to fostering a supportive, interactive learning environment for the MSDABC students. As they continue in the program and the journey toward becoming data and business experts, they will continue to build on their programming knowledge.