Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
CISD364G
Course Title (CB02)
Data Visualization Methodology and Tools
Course Credit Status
Non-Credit
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course is an introduction to the strategies and technologies used in business intelligence reporting and dashboards for making data-driven decisions.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Computer Information Systems (Computer network installation, microcomputer technology, computer applications)]
Discipline 3
[Computer Science]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - CIS]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This is a noncredit enhanced course that belongs on the certificate of completion in Database Development Practitioner. With the ever-increasing deluge of data, organizations rely on nimble business intelligence reports and dashboards to make both strategic and operational decisions. Tools like Tableau, PowerBI, BIRT, Pentaho, etc. will be introduced which are used to rapidly deploy and update role-based dashboards.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
99

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Not transferable

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
0.0
Maximum Credit Units
0.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours4.08.0
Laboratory Hours1.50.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
48.0
Laboratory
18.0
Total
66.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
96.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
96.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

ESL D272. and ESL D273., or ESL D472. and ESL D473., or eligibility for EWRT D001A or EWRT D01AH or ESL D005.

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

NONCREDIT: (This is a noncredit enhanced, CTE course.)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Collaborative learning and small group exercises

Collaborative projects

Assignments

  1. Reading: Required reading from the textbook and class notes
  2. Programs: 4-5 report generation homework assignments
  3. Group Project: Creating business intelligence dashboards for assigned datasets

Methods of Evaluation

  1. One or two midterm examinations requiring some programming, concepts clarification and exhibiting mastery of reporting constructs presented in the course.
  2. A final examination requiring concepts clarification and exhibiting mastery of data analysis and visualization principles.
  3. Evaluation of programming assignments and group project, based on correctness, intuitiveness and visual appeal.

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • Access to a computer lab with Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat and any one of Tableau, PowerBI, BIRT or Pentaho

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Stephanie EvergreenEffective Data Visualization: The Right Chart for the Right DataSAGE Publications, Inc.May 14, 2019 - 2nd editionISBN-13 : 978-1544350882

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Exhibit understanding of Business Intelligence (BI) technologies as means to solving business problems.
  • Demonstrate connecting to disparate data sources for creating reports.
  • Analyze data and perform calculations to derive results.
  • Design visualizations to enable quick decision making for key objectives.
  • Identify ways to publish and share reports, dashboards and other key analytics information with stakeholders.

CSLOs

  • Design and implement reports and dashboards for data and trends analysis using technologies like Tableau, PowerBI, BIRT or Pentaho.

Outline

  1. Exhibit understanding of Business Intelligence (BI) technologies as means to solving business problems.
    1. Understanding key concepts of Business Intelligence (BI).
    2. Review the landscape of BI tools.
  2. Demonstrate connecting to disparate data sources for creating reports.
    1. Structured and unstructured data Sources.
    2. Extracting Data.
    3. Data transformation, cleaning or blending.
      1. Join types with Union.
      2. Cross database joins.
      3. Swapping primary and secondary data sources.
      4. Data query syntax (SQL, JSON, DAX)
    4. Data Modeling.
      1. Building views of data.
      2. Sorting.
      3. Grouping.
      4. Filtering.
      5. Pivoting.
      6. Drill-down and hierarchies.
  3. Analyze data and perform calculations to derive results.
    1. Dimensions and Measures.
    2. Aggregate Calculations.
    3. Type Calculations.
    4. Logic Calculations.
    5. Level of detail expressions.
  4. Design visualizations to enable quick decision making for key objectives.
    1. Chart Types.
      1. Combination charts.
      2. Scatter graphs.
      3. Waterfall and funnel charts.
      4. Pareto charts.
      5. Map visualizations.
    2. Report Formatting.
      1. Shapes, text boxes and images.
      2. Page layout and formatting.
      3. Enhancing display visualizations.
    3. Building dashboards.
      1. Gauges and sliders.
      2. Visual hierarchies and drill-downs.
      3. Group interactions among visualizations.
  5. Identify ways to publish and share reports, dashboards and other key analytics information with stakeholders.
    1. Print and export reports and dashboards.
    2. Create user groups for role-based access.
    3. Publish to web based resources.
    4. Republishing after refreshing data.

Lab Topics

  1. Data extraction from disparate sources.
  2. Cleansing, blending and transforming data.
  3. Modeling and calculating data.
  4. Creating reports and charts.
  5. Designing dashboards.
  6. Publishing and sharing dashboards.
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