Extending the undergraduate computer science curriculum to include data mining

We describe our progress extending the undergraduate computer science (CS) curriculum to include a deep understanding of data mining (DM). Instead of simply using tools involving DM, students build such a tool and learn the relevant algorithms implemented in these tools. Some novel approaches exist in our work. We include a hands-on lab setting where students use the tool they have built to perform experiments that could ultimately extend the field. Hence, undergraduates leave the course with knowledge of performing research in computer science using a scientific method. Additionally, we have a rigorous set of evaluation criteria developed by our colleagues in the psychology department that will assess how well students learn using our novel approach. We first developed and taught this course in the Spring of 2003. The evaluation results demonstrate a statistically significant improvement in the students´ knowledge in this area.