R and RStudio

Some instructional courses covering topics in R and RStudio can be run within the programs themselves.

One of these programs is Swirl, which provides detailed instruction on dozens of topics, all conducted in the R console. All lessons involve interactive practice problems and hands-on coding exercises. The main topics available are the basics of R programming, regression modeling in R, statistical inference  in R, and data analysis in R, each with many subtopics covered in separate lessons. To get started, visit the Swirl home page, then navigate to the “Learn” tab for more instructions.

Some instructional courses covering topics in R and RStudio are offered online, such as via instructional videos or browser-based coding environments. These allow for learning without downloading R or RStudio.

One example is the “Learn R” course in Codecademy. Please note that while Mount Holyoke does not provide employee or student accounts to Codecademy, a “Basic” account is free. The “Plus” and “Pro” accounts require payment, but are not required to access excellent courses. Codecademy offers over 500 free courses in different coding topics, including “Learn R.” The “Learn R” course is free and includes detailed lessons with examples based on real-world data sets, all tied to interactive practice exercises. Project, video, and quiz features will remain locked for “Basic” account users. In addition to an introduction to R, lesson topics include data frames, data cleaning, data visualization, aggregates, joining tables, descriptive statistics, and hypothesis testing.

Another example is Linkedin Learning, which can be accessed for free via an account with Boston Public Library (BPL). All MHC students, as well as any faculty or staff who are Massachusetts residents, can register for a free membership to BPL using the form for BPL eCard Registration. Once you have your membership, you will have access to a variety of online learning resources, including Linkedin Learning, which can be accessed by visiting the page on BPL access to Linkedin Learning. Linkedin Learning has a variety of materials for learning R that range from introductions to in-depth multi-hour courses to shorter lessons on specific skills. You can find these materials by using the search bar in Linkedin Learning or visiting the page on R Online Training Courses.