---
title: TDS Project 1 was an experiment
date: 2026-04-03T16:05:24+08:00
categories:
  - education
  - llms
---

[TDS Project 1](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/) wasn't just a student project. It was a research and social experiment, too.

We tested [two skills](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/stories/two-exams.html) \- analytics and design. The design tests were diverse -- and students fared worse there.

Design may matter more in the AI era, and I'm glad some [designs](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/gallery/index.html) are brilliant. (But not diverse/creative enough.) [I also learnt](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/stories/model-playbook.html) that Gemini beats Midjourney, which beats ChatGPT for image generation.

[![](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/screenshot.webp)](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/gallery/)

I asked them to contribute to open source. Most [PRs were trivial](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/stories/two-labor-markets.html). But five students made a real difference. For example, this [PR](https://github.com/marimo-team/marimo/pull/8520) to Marimo is excellent!

Most importantly, [they're actively collaborating now](https://sanand0.github.io/datastories/tds-2026-01-p1/stories/social-infrastructure.html) - a critical skill in the AI era. One student WhatsApp-ed me:

> Before this i was not interacting with anyone\
> Because of the online nature of this degree\
> \
> But TDS helped me to connect with everyone\
> We are having meet regularly\
> We divide questions with each other\
> And then we solve and discuss

_THIS_ is what I've been trying to teach for 5 years now!