Nifty with data: can a business intelligence analysis sourced from open data form a nifty assignment?

This paper proposes a *nifty assignment* in data mining and discusses how quality in database assignments differs from other domains in computer science, particularly programming. It then considers the sources of data used, to study whether Open Data can form the basis of more such assignments, and if so how. In the next sections, we describe the nifty assessment criteria and explain why use them as a standard for quality of assessment. We then propose an assignment which outlines a number of topics related to finding and accessing Open Data, merging sources, and analysing the data using self-service and data mining tools. Once the assignment is clear, we will reconsider it against the nifty criteria, but also consider how the criteria themselves apply to the area of data mining which has few assignments proposed. Finally, we will consider whether the basis of this assignment, the use of Open Data as a source of data to analyse, can be extended to different cases and examples, and if so how. Keyword : Nifty assignments; Open Data; Business Intelligence; Computer Science Education