Power BI Crash Course

Lesson 1 • Installing and Configuring Power BI Desktop

Guides students through installation, initial setup, and interface orientation. Ensures every student has a working environment before data work begins.

Lesson 2 • Power BI Ecosystem Components

Maps the three core components: Desktop, Service, and Mobile. Students understand how each component fits into a complete analytics workflow.

Lesson 3 • What Is Power BI

Defines Power BI and its position in the business intelligence landscape. Establishes context for all subsequent tools and workflows covered in the course.

Lesson 1 • Connecting to Web and API Sources

Shows how to pull data from web pages and REST APIs into Power BI. Students retrieve and structure semi-structured online data for analysis.

Lesson 2 • Connecting to Database Sources

Covers connections to relational databases and cloud data warehouses. Students configure credentials and test connections to structured database sources.

Lesson 3 • Connecting to File-Based Sources

Demonstrates connecting to Excel, CSV, and JSON files as foundational data sources. Students practice loading flat-file data into the Power BI data model.

Lesson 4 • Managing Data Source Settings

Addresses credential storage, privacy levels, and gateway configuration. Students maintain secure, reliable connections across multiple data sources.

Lesson 1 • Shaping and Restructuring Data

Teaches pivoting, unpivoting, splitting, and merging columns to reshape tables. Students transform raw layouts into structures suitable for data modeling.

Lesson 2 • Essential Data Cleaning Techniques

Covers removing duplicates, handling nulls, and correcting data types. Students resolve the most common data quality issues found in real business datasets.

Lesson 3 • Advanced Power Query Techniques

Introduces parameters, custom functions, and M language basics for reusable logic. Students automate repetitive transformations and handle dynamic data scenarios.

Lesson 4 • Combining Queries

Explains Merge and Append operations to combine data from multiple queries. Students integrate data from different sources into unified, coherent tables.

Lesson 1 • Calculated Columns and Measures Overview

Distinguishes calculated columns from measures and explains when to use each. Students avoid common modeling mistakes before diving into full DAX authoring.

Lesson 2 • Data Modeling Fundamentals

Introduces star schema, fact tables, and dimension tables as modeling foundations. Students understand why model design directly impacts report performance and accuracy.

Lesson 3 • Creating and Managing Relationships

Covers creating relationships in Model view and configuring cardinality and cross-filter direction. Students build a connected model that enables accurate cross-table analysis.

Lesson 4 • Hierarchies and Date Tables

Teaches building custom hierarchies and a proper date dimension table. Students enable time-intelligence calculations and intuitive drill-down navigation.

Lesson 1 • Filter and Context Manipulation

Teaches CALCULATE, FILTER, ALL, and ALLEXCEPT for controlling filter context. Students override and extend default filters to build flexible analytical measures.

Lesson 2 • Time Intelligence Functions

Covers TOTALYTD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, DATEADD, and related functions. Students build period-over-period comparisons and cumulative totals for financial reporting.

Lesson 3 • Advanced DAX Patterns

Introduces RANKX, TOPN, variables, and dynamic segmentation patterns. Students solve complex analytical requirements that go beyond standard aggregation.

Lesson 4 • DAX Syntax and Evaluation Context

Explains DAX syntax rules, row context, and filter context as the conceptual core of the language. Mastering context is essential before writing any meaningful DAX formula.

Lesson 1 • Formatting Visuals for Clarity

Teaches formatting pane options including colors, labels, titles, and axes. Students apply consistent, professional styling that enhances rather than distracts from data.

Lesson 2 • Choosing the Right Visual Type

Maps analytical questions to appropriate chart types using data visualization principles. Students avoid common chart misuse and select visuals that communicate accurately.

Lesson 3 • Configuring Visual Fields and Filters

Covers adding fields to visual wells and applying visual-level, page-level, and report-level filters. Students control exactly what data each visual displays.

Lesson 4 • Maps and Geospatial Visuals

Introduces filled maps, bubble maps, and Azure Maps for geographic analysis. Students visualize location-based data accurately using proper geocoding practices.

Lesson 1 • Report Layout and Design Principles

Addresses canvas sizing, alignment, spacing, and visual hierarchy for professional layouts. Students apply design principles that improve readability and user trust.

Lesson 2 • Bookmarks and Report Navigation

Explains bookmarks, selection pane, and button-based navigation for guided storytelling. Students build report experiences that feel like polished applications.

Lesson 3 • Drill-Down and Drill-Through

Teaches hierarchy drill-down within visuals and drill-through to detail pages. Students enable layered exploration from summary to granular data.

Lesson 4 • Tooltips and Report Page Tooltips

Covers default tooltips, custom tooltip fields, and report page tooltips for rich context. Students add contextual detail without cluttering the main report canvas.

Lesson 1 • Row-Level Security

Teaches defining roles and DAX-based RLS rules to restrict data access by user. Students implement data security that scales across large, diverse user populations.

Lesson 2 • Governance and Deployment Pipelines

Introduces endorsement, sensitivity labels, and deployment pipelines for enterprise governance. Students apply lifecycle management practices that maintain report quality at scale.

Lesson 3 • Scheduled Refresh and Gateways

Configures scheduled dataset refresh and on-premises data gateway for automated updates. Students ensure stakeholders always access current data without manual intervention.

Lesson 4 • Sharing and Collaboration

Covers sharing reports, creating apps, and collaborating in workspaces. Students distribute insights to stakeholders using appropriate sharing mechanisms.