Curriculum for training and learning

[ChrisBeeley]

NHS-R needs to have a considered view on a "curriculum" or competency framework for an NHS-R analyst, and this document could be a place for that.

@Lextuga007 will have good ideas, as will others no doubt

[wbryant]

Should this issue be closed here if it's over in the vision repo?

[ChrisBeeley]

I've deleted my previous response because I can see the confusion. I've now deleted the message in this issue that references the vision repo

[Lextuga007]

The ultimate goal is to have training to be ready to create a Reproducible Analytical Pipeline so that could include some training outside R like SQL or Python but for the Community I'd say:

Core

• Introduction to R
• RMarkdown (or Quarto)
• GitHub/Git version control - perhaps using R Studio
• Disaster recovery for mistakes in GitHub
• SQL connections and using packages like dbyplyr
• Webscraping - really useful for nationally published data in pipelines
• Reproducible Analytical Pipelines - basics of what it is as the courses should be part of RAP
• SQL fundamentals
• Debugging - inspired from Shannon Pileggi's workshop from the 2022 conference?
• Documentation - the how might be next step but early attempts at documentation are always good
• R Functions and loops or Python
• GIS mapping - shape files

Next step

• Introduction to Base R
• Introduction to datatable
• Introduction to plotly
• Introduction to loops and functions
• specific packages like fingertipsR and pheindicatormethods
• Building websites and books because they are good for teams to share information and understanding/contributing to other's sites like this (and it's fun)

Taking this further

• Package building
• Advancing in ggplot2
• unit testing

[ChrisBeeley]

Looks good, I wonder if it could be divided into "core" (like GitHub, RMarkdown, loops and functions) and "extra" (data.table, plotly, webscraping)

[wbryant]

There will definitely be some which are applicable to a subset of analysts. Should we have elements around analytics/the logic and pipeline of an analysis and how it might look when complete? There are obviously a whole bunch of stats/data science methods, and they are captured across a wide range of learning resources, but actual practical/pragmatic lessons on the elements of a good analytics project (e.g. outcomes measurement, best practice in structuring code for reuse), stakeholder management, dealing with project creep etc? Might be more for the AphA/AnalystX curriculum on professional training? Dr William A Bryant Senior Data Scientist for the DRE @ GOSH

…

________________________________ From: Chris Beeley ***@***.***> Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2022 10:08:03 PM To: nhs-r-community/statements-on-tools ***@***.***> Cc: William Bryant ***@***.***>; Comment ***@***.***> Subject: [External Email] Re: [nhs-r-community/statements-on-tools] Curriculum for training and learning (Issue #26) Looks good, I wonder if it could be divided into "core" (like GitHub, RMarkdown, loops and functions) and "extra" (data.table, plotly, webscraping) — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#26 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB7LEJM74LIHIVJUOFEOYA3VRNSTHANCNFSM5X72IN5A>. You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***> Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorised to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

[ChrisBeeley]

Is there a curriculum on professional training? I've never heard of such a thing. I've only seen the competency framework. Is it finished/ in draft?

[wbryant]

I think that's what I meant, though now you mention it there is the new FeDIP learning hub, just released today I think - https://www.fedip.org/fedip-hub. Haven't had a chance to look at it so not sure exactly what it includes. Dr William A Bryant Senior Data Scientist for the DRE @ GOSH

…

________________________________ From: Chris Beeley ***@***.***> Sent: Wednesday, June 29, 2022 7:28:25 PM To: nhs-r-community/statements-on-tools ***@***.***> Cc: William Bryant ***@***.***>; Comment ***@***.***> Subject: [External Email] Re: [nhs-r-community/statements-on-tools] Curriculum for training and learning (Issue #26) Is there a curriculum on professional training? I've never heard of such a thing. I've only seen the competency framework. Is it finished/ in draft? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#26 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/AB7LEJJGNHCUYDT3WFFZOILVRSIUTANCNFSM5X72IN5A>. You are receiving this because you commented.Message ID: ***@***.***> Disclaimer The information contained in this communication from the sender is confidential. It is intended solely for use by the recipient and others authorised to receive it. If you are not the recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking action in relation of the contents of this information is strictly prohibited and may be unlawful.

[Lextuga007]

Interesting. I think this is more of a catalogue than a curriculum:

These include accredited CPD resources, past webinars from FEDIP and our Professional Bodies, and Taster Courses from our accredited partners.
We have a small selection to get us started but FEDIP and our Professional Bodies will be adding continuously to grow our catalogue.

It's also restricted to practitioners (with 6 month free initially for non-practitioners) and may require membership to a professional body which makes it exclusive. My hope is that NHS-R Community continues to be inclusive with materials open to the public following the recommendation from Better, Broader and Safer Review:

18. Create an Open College for NHS Analysts: this should devise (and coordinate delivery of) a curriculum for initial training and ‘continuing professional development’, tied to job descriptions; all training content should be shared openly online to all; and cover a range of skills and roles from deep data science to data communication.

[wbryant]

Yes a very fair point. It highlights a tension between wanting the professionalisation of the analytics function (as also recommended in the Goldacre Report), including presumably some sort of membership benefits (whatever they turn out to be) versus the open code, open practice, open guidance as also recommended (and exemplified by the Open College recommendation).

[Lextuga007]

Another training consideration (outside R):

• https://datahazards.com/index.html
• Project management/agile and/or workflow

[ChrisBeeley]

Everything open, all the time

[Lextuga007]

I've just seen this on the GSS site https://gss.civilservice.gov.uk/training/r-control-flow-loops-and-functions/ which looks really interesting. It's not open sadly but might be something NHS staff can access (I've asked if I can).

[Lextuga007]

Training on data from the UK data service