top of page
DataForge-Academy-logo
Join The Next Cohort - Applications Open

Junior Cohort Syllabus 

Focus: Foundations, confidence building, structured repetition, age‑appropriate datasets, guided projects.

​

Week 1 — Databricks Foundations & Setup

Session A — Databricks Orientation & First Notebook

Students learn what data analytics is and explore Databricks in a gentle, age‑appropriate way.

  • What data analytics is

  • Databricks workspace tour (Catalog, Volumes, Notebooks)

  • First Python notebook in Databricks

  • print(), variables, simple expressions

Portfolio Artifact: First Databricks notebook

Homework: 5 print statements + variable practice

​

Session B — About Me Notebook

  • Basic expressions

  • Simple text output

  • Markdown cells for formatting

  • Mini‑project: About Me Notebook

  • Save notebook to workspace

Portfolio Artifact: About Me Notebook

Homework: Add two new sections to the notebook

​

Week 2 — Python Logic & Data Structures

Session A — Lists, Dictionaries, Loops

Students learn the building blocks of programming through fun, relatable examples.

  • Lists

  • Dictionaries

  • For loops

  • If/else logic

Portfolio Artifact: Logic practice notebook

Homework: Count occurrences in a list (snacks, games, songs)

​

Session B — Mini Project: Teen Survey Analyzer

  • Loop through a dictionary of favorite games/music

  • Print simple insights

  • Save results to Delta Lake

Portfolio Artifact: Python script analyzing a small dataset

Homework: Add one new insight to the analyzer

​

Week 3 — Python + Pandas for Real Data

Session A — Pandas Basics

Students work with small, age‑appropriate datasets.

  • Import CSV from Databricks Volumes

  • head(), info()

  • Clean data (drop NA, rename columns)

  • Save cleaned data to Delta Lake

Portfolio Artifact: Cleaned Delta table

Homework: Clean a second dataset + write to Delta

​

Session B — Visualization

  • Matplotlib basics

  • Create 2–3 charts

  • Mini analysis of a Spotify/gaming/movie dataset

Portfolio Artifact: Notebook with cleaned data + charts

Homework: Create 2 additional charts

​

Week 4 — SQL Fundamentals

Session A — SQL Basics in Databricks

  • SELECT

  • WHERE

  • ORDER BY

  • Query Delta tables in SQL Warehouse

Portfolio Artifact: SQL query notebook

Homework: 10 SQL queries on the provided dataset

​

Session B — SQL + Python

  • Run SQL inside Python using spark.sql()

  • Convert SQL results to pandas

  • Export results to CSV for Tableau

Portfolio Artifact: SQL/Python integration notebook

Homework: Write 3 insights from SQL results

​

Week 5 — Intermediate SQL + Joins

Session A — Joins + Aggregates

Students learn simple relational concepts using small, friendly datasets.

  • INNER JOIN

  • LEFT JOIN

  • GROUP BY

  • COUNT, SUM, AVG

Portfolio Artifact: Joined Delta table

Homework: Answer 3 real questions using SQL joins

​

Session B — Data Story Project

  • Students answer a real question using joins

  • Export results

  • Write a short insight summary in notebook markdown

Portfolio Artifact: Data Story Using Joins

Homework: Draft capstone proposal

​

Week 6 — Tableau Visualization Principles

Session A — Visualization Theory + Databricks Connection

  • Good vs. bad charts

  • Color, layout, clarity

  • Connect Tableau → Databricks SQL Warehouse

  • Build first worksheet

Portfolio Artifact: First Tableau worksheet

Homework: Improve one chart using feedback

​

Session B — Build First Visualizations

  • Bar chart

  • Line chart

  • Scatter plot

  • Peer review

Portfolio Artifact: Three polished Tableau charts

Homework: Add a filter to one chart

​

Week 7 — Dashboard Building

Session A — Dashboard Design

  • Layout

  • Filters

  • Interactivity

  • Storytelling

Portfolio Artifact: Dashboard draft

Homework: Add one new chart to the dashboard

​

Session B — Build Dashboard

  • Assemble full dashboard

  • Publish to Tableau Public

  • Share link

Portfolio Artifact: Tableau dashboard

Homework: Finalize capstone proposal

​

Week 8 — Capstone Showcase

Session A — Capstone Work Time

Students combine everything they’ve learned into a simple, confidence‑building project.

  • Python analysis

  • SQL queries

  • Tableau dashboard

  • Write summary

Portfolio Artifact: Full capstone project (Python + SQL + Tableau)

Session B — Presentations

  • 3–5 minute capstone presentation

  • Optional parent showcase

  • Certificates + celebration

Portfolio Artifact: Final capstone + dashboard link

bottom of page