About

In this exercise, students are introduced to the basics of R using the swirl package (https://swirlstats.com), which teaches students R from within the R console. The primary goal of this exercise is to get students comfortable interacting with the R console.

swirl logo

Skills Level

Genetics
Novice: no genetics knowledge needed

Programming skills
Novice: no programming experience needed

Format

Class Type: Lab (computer based)
Lesson Length: One class period (2-3 hr lab)
- 40 min setup and introduction (for shorter lab periods, these can be done ahead of time)
- 2 hr core lab exercises
- Optional 20 min “challenge” exercise

Learning Objectives

Open RStudio and locate important panels (R console, Help)
Run commands in the R console
Explain what vectors and dataframes are in R
Use common R commands to work with R objects (e.g. assign, print, subset, math operations)
Explore a dataset using base R commands (e.g. dim, summary, str)

Core Competencies

This activity addresses the following core concepts and competencies:

Vision and Change

Competencies

2: Ability to use quantitative reasoning
4: Ability to tap into the interdisciplinary nature of science

Bioinformatics

C7: Use command-line bioinformatics tools and write simple computer scripts

Core concepts and competencies are taken from the following sources:

GDSCN Collection

This exercise is part of a collection of teaching resources developed through the Genomic Data Science Community Network (GDSCN). GDSCN works towards a vision where researchers, educators, and students from diverse backgrounds are able to fully participate in genomic data science research. Learn more about GDSCN by visiting https://www.gdscn.org/home or reading the article in Genome Research.

Intro R with swirl