Workshops and Classes

Public Workshops
Community Data Science Workshops — The Community Data Science Workshops (CDSW) are a series of workshops designed to introduce some of the basic tools of programming and analysis of data from online communities to absolute beginners. The CDSW have been held four times in Seattle in 2014 and 2015. So far, more than 80 people have volunteered their weekends to teach more than 350 people to program in Python, to build datasets from Web APIs, and to ask and answer questions using these data.

University of Washington Courses

 * [Spring 2023] COM597A/COMMLD570B: Community Data Science: Programming, Data Collection, and Data Science for Social Media — A quarter long course taught by Benjamin Mako Hill and Kaylea Champion that adapts and builds upon the CDSW curriculum to teach introductory programming, data collection, and basic data science tools to absolute beginners. The course is being offered jointly between the University of Washington Department of Communication's MA/PhD program and the Communication Leadership program.


 * [Winter 2023] COM 481: Online Communities — A course on online communities taught by Kaylea Champion.


 * [Spring 2022] COM528: Designing Internet Research — A MA/PhD class offering a survey of several Internet research methods taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Spring 2022] COM594: Professional Development Proseminar: Writing for Publication (Spring 2022) — A one-credit course on writing for publication that is part of the UW MA/PhD program's professional development proseminar series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Spring 2022] HCID590: Design, Use, Build (DUB) Seminar — A one-credit course in the MHCI+D program at UW built around the DUB Seminar speakers series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Winter 2022] COM481: Online Communities — A course on online communities taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Winter 2022] COM594: Professional Development Proseminar: Career Choices (Winter 2022) — A one-credit course on career options that is part of the UW MA/PhD program's professional development proseminar series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Winter 2022] HCID590: Design, Use, Build (DUB) Seminar — A one-credit course in the MHCI+D program at UW built around the DUB Seminar speakers series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2021] COM594: Professional Development Proseminar: Funding (Fall 2021) — A one-credit course on grants and funding that is part of the UW MA/PhD program's professional development proseminar series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2021] HCID590: Design, Use, Build (DUB) Seminar — A one-credit course in the MHCI+D program at UW built around the DUB Seminar speakers series. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Spring 2021] COMMLD570: Building Successful Online Communities — A quarter-long course taught by Benjamin Mako Hill on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics. The course is taught in the University of Washington's Communication Leadership program.


 * [Spring 2021] HCDE 410: Human Data Interaction — A quarter-long survey course that builds data science literacy among undergraduate students across a spectrum of educational backgrounds and professional goals, anchored in the principles and methods of human centered design. Students will gain critical understanding of data-driven algorithmic systems and their implications through readings and written reflections, collaborative in-class activities and group discussions, and hands-on research and programming activities. Under development by Jonathan T. Morgan and Brock Craft.


 * [Winter 2021] COM520: Statistical Methods in Communication — A quarter-long quantitative methods course that builds a first-quarter introduction to quantitative methodology and that focuses on both the more mathematical elements of statistics as well as the nuts-and-bolts of statistical programming in the GNU R programming language. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Winter 2021] COM482: Interpersonal Media: Online Communities — A course on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics taught by Nathan TeBlunthuis.


 * [Winter 2021] Directed Research Group: The COVID-19 Information Landscape (Winter 2021) — A directed research group studying our response to the Coronavirus/Covid-19 pandemic.


 * [Fall 2020] COM482: Interpersonal Media: Online Communities — A course on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2020] Directed Research Group: The COVID-19 Information Landscape (Fall 2020) -- A directed research group considering responses to the Covid-19 pandemic. Students will learn to conduct thematic analysis and content analysis on search engine results. (Appears as COM 499)


 * [Winter 2020] COM482: Interpersonal Media: Online Communities — A course on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Winter 2020] COM528: Internet Research Methods — A MA/PhD class offering a survey of several Internet research methods taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2019] DATA512: Human Centered Data Science — A core course in the UW professional Master of Science in Data Science program covering a range of ethical and practical considerations in the practice of data science research and the design of algorithmically-driven applications taught by Jonathan T. Morgan.


 * [Summer 2019] COM220: Introduction to Public Speaking — A quarter long course taught by Wm Salt Hale that trains students in the art of public speaking. The course was designed for both majors and non-majors of the University of Washington's Department of Communication.


 * [Winter 2019] COM482: Interpersonal Media: Online Communities — A course on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics. taught by Nate TeBlunthuis.


 * [Fall 2018] DATA512: Human Centered Data Science — A core course in the UW professional Master of Science in Data Science program covering a range of ethical and practical considerations in the practice of data science research and the design of algorithmically-driven applications taught by Jonathan T. Morgan.


 * [Fall 2017] COM597: Innovation Communities — A UW Communication Leadership’s elective in the “Masters in Communication in Communities and Networks” program covering using online communities to harness user innovation taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2017] DATA512: Human Centered Data Science — Fundamental principles of data science and its human implications. Data ethics; data privacy; differential privacy; algorithmic bias; legal frameworks and intellectual property; provenance and reproducibility; data curation and preservation; user experience design and usability testing for big data; ethics of crowdwork; data communication; and societal impacts of data science.


 * [Spring 2017] COM597I: Community Data Science: Programming and Data Science for Social Media — A quarter long course taught by Tommy Guy that adapts and builds upon the CDSW curriculum to teach introductory programming and data science to absolute beginners in the context of the University of Washington's Communication Leadership program.


 * [Winter 2017] COM521: Statistics and Statistical Programming — A quarter-long quantitative methods course that builds a first-quarter introduction to quantitative methodology and that focuses on both the more mathematical elements of statistics as well as the nuts-and-bolts of statistical programming in the GNU R programming language. Taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2016] COM597A: Building Successful Online Communities — A quarter-long course taught by Benjamin Mako Hill on online communities and computer mediated communication with an emphasis on learning from research in social psychology, sociology, and behavioral economics. The course is taught in the University of Washington's Communication Leadership program.


 * [Spring 2016] COM597: Programming and Data Science for Social Media — A quarter-long course taught by Tommy Guy that adapts and builds upon the CDSW curriculum to teach introductory programming and data science to absolute beginners in the context of the University of Washington's Communication Leadership program.


 * [Spring 2016] HCDE598: Data Science for User Experience Researchers: A special topics course in the "Masters in Human Centered Design & Engineering" program covering the use of data science tools and concepts to conduct research with open online data taught by Jonathan Morgan.


 * [Spring 2016] COM597F: Innovation Communities — A UW Communication Leadership’s elective in the “Masters in Communication in Communities and Networks” program covering using online communities to harness user innovation taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Spring 2016] COM528: Internet Research Methods — A MA/PhD class offering a survey of several Internet research methods taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Fall 2015] COM482: Interpersonal Media: Online Communities — A course on online communities and computer mediated communication taught by Benjamin Mako Hill.


 * [Spring 2015] COM597: Programming and Data Science for Social Media — A quarter-long course taughted by Benjamin Mako Hill that adapts and builds upon the CDSW curriculum to teach introductory programming and data science to absolute beginners in the context of the University of Washington's Communication Leadership program.

Northwestern Courses & Workshops

 * [Winter 2024] History and Theory of Information (COMM_ST 395 | MTS 525, syllabus link forthcoming) — We live in an information age, with computers of unprecedented power in our pockets. This course seeks to understand how information shapes our lives today, and how it has in the past. It does so via an interdisciplinary inquiry into four technological infrastructures of information and communication—print, wires, airwaves, and bits. Co-taught by Aaron Shaw and Daniel Immerwahr.


 * [Fall 2023] Introduction to Graduate Research (MTS 501, Fall, 2023) – The goal of this seminar is to introduce first-year students in the Northwestern University TSB and MTS Ph.D. programs to (1) current research in these fields, and (2) key challenges involved in pursuing an impactful, responsible, and fulfilling research career. Taught by Aaron Shaw


 * [Winter 2022] Online Communities & Crowds (COMM_ST 378 / MTS 525)– Online communities & crowds are fundamental to how people communicate, work, play, learn, socialize, and more. However, they also threaten our well-being and undermine critical social institutions as well as the integrity of public discourse. This (advanced undergraduate and graduate level) course seeks to understand online communities & crowds. It does so through an interdisciplinary inquiry into a set of practical challenges that confront online communities & crowds today. When and why do some efforts to overcome these challenges succeed? What insights and expectations can we draw from these experiences? Taught by Aaron Shaw


 * [Fall 2021] Introduction to Graduate Research (MTS 501, Fall, 2021) – The goal of this seminar is to introduce first-year students in the Northwestern University TSB and MTS Ph.D. programs to (1) current research in these fields, and (2) key challenges involved in pursuing an impactful, responsible, and fulfilling research career. Taught by Aaron Shaw


 * [Fall 2020]  MTS 525 / COMM_ST 395: Statistics and Statistical Computing — This course provides a get-your-hands-dirty introduction to inferential statistics and statistical programming mostly for applications in the social sciences and social computing. My main objectives are for all participants to acquire the conceptual, technical, and practical skills to conduct your own statistical analyses and become more sophisticated consumers of quantitative research in communication, human computer interaction (HCI), and adjacent disciplines.


 * [Winter 2020] History and Theory of Information — We live in an information age, with computers of unprecedented power in our pockets. This course seeks to understand how information shapes our lives today, and how it has in the past. It does so via an interdisciplinary inquiry into four technological infrastructures of information and communication—print, wires, airwaves, and bits. Co-taught by Aaron Shaw and Daniel Immerwahr.


 * [Spring 2019]  MTS525: Statistics and Statistical Programming — A quarter-long graduate-level quantitative methods course that focuses on both the foundations for inferential statistics as well as the nuts-and-bolts of statistical programming in the GNU R programming language. Taught by Aaron Shaw.


 * [Spring 2019] The Practice of Scholarship (MTS 503, Spring 2019) — The second of two required seminars in the Media, Technology & Society (MTS) and Technology and Social Behavior (TSB) programs, the goal for this course is simple: submit a piece of academic research for publication by the end of the quarter. The course and assignments are structured to help students cultivate (more of) the skills, wisdom, and experience necessary to publish independent, original, and high-quality scholarship in relevant venues for their work. The experience will probably feel like a combination of a writing bootcamp and an extended group therapy session.


 * Online Communities & Crowds (COMMST 378, Fall 2016) — This advanced undergraduate course presents an interdisciplinary introduction to the study of online communities and crowds, with a particular emphasis on how and why some of these systems are so wildly effective at mobilizing and organizing people in ways that seem to have been impossible a few decades ago.


 * Introduction to Graduate Research (MTS 501, Fall 2016) — The first of two required seminars in the Media, Technology & Society (MTS) and Technology and Social Behavior (TSB) programs, this course introduces first year Ph.D. students to research skills and gives guidance on how to be a productive and responsible scholar.


 * Bring Your Own Research Workshop (BYOR) — A research workshop for CDSC affiliates and fellow travelers at Northwestern convened by Aaron Shaw. Participants present work and provide peer feedback/accountability in weekly meetings. Most members of the group are affiliates of the Media, Technology & Society and Technology & Social Behavior programs at Northwestern and study online communities, collective action, organizations, collaboration, and related topics.


 * The Practice of Scholarship (MTS 503, Spring 2016) — The second of two required seminars in the Media, Technology & Society (MTS) and Technology and Social Behavior (TSB) programs, the goal for this course is simple: submit a piece of academic research for publication by the end of the quarter. The course and assignments are structured to help students cultivate (more of) the skills, wisdom, and experience necessary to publish independent, original, and high-quality scholarship in relevant venues for their work. The experience will probably feel like a combination of a writing bootcamp and an extended group therapy session.

Purdue University Courses

 * [Spring 2022] Quantitative Methods for Communication Research (COM 304 Spring 2022) Taught by Jeremy Foote.


 * [Spring 2022] Communication and Social Networks (COM 411, Spring 2021) – This class focuses on understanding how the structure of relationships between people influence communication patterns and behavior. This perspective can help us to understand a broad set of phenomena, from online communities to friendships to businesses. The course will also introduce students to using network visualizations to gain and share insights about network phenomena. Taught by Jeremy Foote.


 * [Fall 2021] Communication and Social Networks (COM 411, Fall 2021) – This class focuses on understanding how the structure of relationships between people influence communication patterns and behavior. This perspective can help us to understand a broad set of phenomena, from online communities to friendships to businesses. The course will also introduce students to using network visualizations to gain and share insights about network phenomena. Taught by Jeremy Foote.


 * [Fall 2021] Intro to Programming and Data Science (COM 674, Fall 2021) – This course is intended to give students an introduction to programming principles, the Python programming language, and data science tools and approaches. Taught by Jeremy Foote.


 * [Spring 2021] Turning Data into Insight and Stories (COM 495/6/7, Spring 2021)


 * [Spring 2021] Communication and Social Networks (COM 411, Spring 2021)


 * [Summer 2020] Intro to Programming and Data Science (COM 67400, Summer 2020) — An intense, four-week version of the graduate level course intended to provide an introduction to programming and computational analysis of text in Python. The course is designed for social scientists, especially those seeking to gather data from the Web. These courses borrow heavily from the Community Data Science Workshops and courses.


 * [Spring 2020] Intro to Programming and Data Science (COM 67400, Spring 2020) — A graduate level course intended to provide an introduction to programming and computational analysis of text in Python. The course is designed for social scientists, especially those seeking to gather data from the Web.


 * [Spring 2020] Communication and Social Networks (COM 411, Spring 2020) — This course is designed as an introduction to the theory and practice of social network analysis. My version of the course introduced the programming language  and visualizing and analyzing networks using the igraph library.