Data Visualization with MS Power BI

​​Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that can be used to analyse, communicate and manage information. Those with no prior spreadsheet experience will acquire expert level applied skills in the latest version of MS Excel. This instructor lead, hands-on course focuses on best practices used to create meaningful workbooks and how to master the techniques and time saving shortcuts for the daily use of MS Excel. Students learn to use MS Excel Ribbon interface with contextual tabs, Quick Access Toolbar and how to make use of templates, styles, pivot tables, what if analysis tools and macros via lectures, lab exercises and assignments outside of class. Topics include: creating, editing, formatting and saving a worksheet, sorting, filtering, slicers, applying formulae, functions, importing and exporting data, and consolidating data in multiple worksheets. This course is required in the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC) and the Applied Computer Applications (ACA) Associate Certificate from BCIT Computing Part-time Studies. By the end of this course, successful participants will be expert end users of MS Excel.
Prerequisite(s):

• COMP 1002

​Power BI is a Microsoft collection of tools and an analytics service for data visualization and business intelligence reporting. BCIT Computing offers a series of MS Power Bi courses. COMP 2156 is a hands-on intro course designed for database professionals, data analysts, business analysts and managers. It follows on from COMP 2362 or COMP 2364, it assumes that students have an understanding of statistics for data analysis and advanced functions of MS Excel. Students begin with a brief introduction to the building blocks of Microsoft Power BI and its related services. They are shown how to get a variety of data into the Power BI Desktop from multiple sources. In class labs and exercises focus on how to model, explore, clean and transform simple data for business reports. Topics include: Data Analysis Expressions, DAX, relationships and Data Visualization. Labs and assignments are designed to provide best practices that can be transferred to the workplace. Participants must provide their own current model PC capable of running Windows 10 and MS Excel, with an i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB minimum RAM, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. COMP 2156 is an elective in several BCIT Computing credentials including the CST Diploma (FLEX), and a required course in the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC). By the end of this course successful students will be able use the Power BI unified analytics platform to build and publish high quality dashboards to the web. They will be prepared to move on to the next level COMP 3156 –MS Power BI Optimization and COMP 3157–MS Power BI Advanced Data Visualization.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2362 or 60% in COMP 2364

​​Following on from COMP 2156 , and parallel to COMP 3157, this hands-on advanced course was designed for Business Intelligence and Data Analysts. Students who already know how to use Power BI to build and publish reports begin with an in-depth introduction to Star Schema and its relevance to optimal Power BI data modeling. COMP 3156 in-class labs and exercises focus on specific strategies to optimize large complex Power BI data models and how to leverage Power BI Service in the cloud for fast performing reports. Topics include relational data modeling in Power BI, Designing Import, DirectQuery, and Composite Data Models. There is also an in-depth explanation of Power BI Service Performance Monitoring. Tabular Editor and DAX Studio are also discussed. Labs and assignments include managing security permissions, data visibility based on role as and leveraging specialized third-party tools. Tabular Editor and DAX Studio are used to monitor and evaluate data model performance. Participants must provide their own current model PC capable of running Windows 11 and MS Excel, with an i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB minimum RAM, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. COMP 3156 is an elective in several BCIT Computing credentials including the CST Diploma (FLEX), and the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC). By the end of this course, successful students will be able to build advanced, optimized data models and use the Power BI Service cloud environment.​ This course will be offered in the Winter (January) and Spring (April) terms.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2156

​​​Following on from COMP 2156, and parallel to COMP 3156, this hands-on advanced course was designed for Business Intelligence and Data Analysts. Students who already know how to use Power BI to build and publish reports begin with an in-depth introduction to the dashboard development process. COMP 3157 in-class labs and exercises focus on creating advanced user-friendly reports and dashboards. Topics include visualization best practices, misleading data visualization practices to avoid, how to manage dashboard development projects and more. There is also an in-depth explanation of the Guided Analytics Approach and Dashboard UI/UX principles are also discussed. Labs and assignments include creating advanced reports with Power BI Desktop, identifying common data visualization pitfalls and discussing methods to apply visualization best practices. Participants must provide their own current model PC capable of running Windows 11 and MS Excel, with an i5 or higher equivalent processor, 8 GB minimum RAM, and 256 GB minimum storage. High-speed internet access is needed for online sections and for homework. COMP 3157 is an elective in several BCIT Computing credentials including the CST Diploma (FLEX), and the Applied Data Analytics Certificate (ADAC). By the end of this course, successful students will be able to build innovative and accessible dashboards for various stakeholder groups. This course will be offered in the fall (September) or winter (January) term.
Prerequisite(s):

• 60% in COMP 2156