Data Analytics Essentials

Scope and Sequence

Version 1.0

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 Contents
Target Audience 3

Prerequisites 3

Certification Alignment 3

Course Description 3

Course Objectives 3

Equipment Requirements 4

Course Outline 4

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 Target Audience
The data analytics essentials course is appropriate for learners with a high school reading proficiency, basic
computer literacy, and interest in pursuing an entry-level position in data analytics.

Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for this course. Although beginners should consider completing Introduction to Data
Science on Skills for All.

Certification Alignment
There are no target certifications for this course.

Course Description
The Data Analytics Essentials course teaches you the fundamental tools of a data analyst. You will learn to
transform, organize, and visualize data with spreadsheet tools such as Excel. You will also learn how to query data
from a relational database using SQL and how to improve your data presentations using powerful business
intelligence tools like Tableau. By the end of the course, you will have taken the steps necessary to start a data
analytics portfolio complete with an analysis of the popular movies dataset, showcasing your skills in Excel, SQL, and
Tableau.

• Rich multimedia content, including interactive lab activities, videos, games, and quizzes, addresses a variety
of learning styles to help stimulate learning and increase knowledge retention.
• Learning Labs provide interactive tabular and visual representations of data to assist with comprehension
and make learning about data enjoyable
• Innovative assessments provide immediate feedback to support the evaluation of knowledge and acquired
skills.
• Technical concepts are explained using language that works well for learners at all levels.
• Embedded interactive activities break up reading large content sections and reinforce understanding.
• Learners are encouraged and directed to begin creating an online presence by setting up a Github
repository. In addition to blogging about their learnings.

Course Objectives

• Explain how data analytics projects are organized.

• Perform initial data gathering and investigation using a spreadsheet.
• Use Excel functions and formulas to transform data for analysis.
• Obtain appropriate data for analysis.
• Perform statistical analysis on data
• Formulate a structured query to extract & combine data from multiple tables.

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 • Formulate a structured query using SQL.
• Create visualizations using Tableau.
• Explain the ethical issues and biases that can affect data analytics.
• Revisit your portfolio and learn about building your skillset.

Equipment Requirements
Software

Recommended PC Hardware Requirements

• Computer with either Windows (8.1, 10, 11), MacOS (10.14 or newer) or Ubuntu 20.04 LTS operating
system, amd64(x86-64) CPU, 4 GB of free RAM, 10 GB of free disk space. (Not supported: macOS with a M1
CPU and Chromebooks)
• High speed internet access

Course Outline
Table 1 details course modules and their associated objectives. Each module is an integrated unit of learning that
consists of content and activities. The size of the module depends on the depth of knowledge and skill needed to
master the competency.

Table 1: Module Title and Objective

Module Title / Topic Title Objective

Module 1: Data Analytics Projects

1.0 Data Analytics Projects Explain how data analytics projects are organized.

1.1 Analytics in Real Time Explain the value of data analytics.

1.2 Data Analytics in Action Describe the phases in the analytics process

1.3 The Project Portfolio Explain how to create and share a project portfolio

Module 2: Getting started with data gathering and investigation

2.0 Getting started with data gathering and investigation Perform initial data gathering and investigating using a spreadsheet

2.1 Tools or data understanding Describe common software tools used in data analytics

2.2 Basic Excel concepts and features Use basic Excel functions to gather and examine data

2.3 Use simple functions for data analysis Explain how variables and values are used in data analysis.

Module 3: Preparing and cleaning data for analysis

3.0 Preparing and cleaning data for analysis Explain how to obtain appropriate data for analysis

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 Module Title / Topic Title Objective

3.1 Sources of data Describe various sources of data that are used in data analytics

3.2 Data in structured files Describe various types of structured data files.

3.3 Unstructured data Describe various types of unstructured data sources

3.4 Data preparation Configure data according to the requirements of an analysis

Module 4: Transforming Data with Excel

4.0 Transforming Data with Excel analysis Use Excel functions and formulas to transform data for analysis.

4.1 Sorting and filtering data with Excel Use data analysis tools and techniques to sort and filter data with Excel.

4.2 Formatting and adjusting data Use data analysis tools and techniques to format and adjust data with
Excel
4.3 Data Calculations Use Excel techniques to perform data calculations

Module 5: Analyze the data using statistics

5.0 Analyze the data using statistics Perform statistical analyses on data

5.1 Using statistics to interpret data Describe different types of statistics

5.2 Choosing the right visualization for the job Select data visualizations to best explain analysis results

5.3 Creating visualizations with Excel Create visualizations with Excel

5.4 Addressing anomalies in data Interpret visualizations to identify anomalies in data

5.5 Using Excel to address issues with data Use VLOOKUP or XLOOKUP in Excel to identify and fix issues

Module 6: Introduction to Relational Databases and SQL

6.0 Introduction to Relational Databases and SQL Formulate a structured query using SQL

6.1 Basic data management Explain the basic concepts of databases and data management

6.2 SQL Create SQL queries to select and output data

Module 7: Introduction to structured queries

7.0 Introduction to structured queries Formulate a structured query to extract and combine data from multiple
tables.
7.1 Relational Database structures Explain the structure of relational databases.

7.2 Using SQL with multiple tables Create SQL queries using multiple data tables

7.3 Combining SQL functions to extract data Use JOIN and other SQL functions to extract data from multiple tables.

7.4 Management features of SQL and alternatives Describe how SQL is used to manage databases and what its alternatives
are.

Module 8: Introduction to Tableau

8.0 Introduction to Tableau Create visualizations using Tableau

8.1 Introducing Tableau Use the Tableau interface to visualize data

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 Module Title / Topic Title Objective

8.2 Create visualization in Tableau Import data to create visualizations

8.3 Tableau dashboards Explain the purpose and functionality of a data dashboard.

Module 9: Ethics and Bias in Data

9.0 Ethics and Bias in Data Analytics Explain the ethical issues and biases that can affect data analytics.

9.1 Bias in Data Analysis Explain the types of bias that can impact data analysis results

9.2 Ethical use of data Explain the ethical issues presented by using data

Module 10: Take the Next Steps

10.0 Take the Next Steps Revisit your portfolio and learn about building your skillset

10.1 Requirements for a portfolio Consider making a portfolio and what to include in it.

10.2 Expanding Your Analytics Skills Describe advanced analytics tools.

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