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Data Visualization Fundamentals

Microsoft

Data Visualization Fundamentals is designed to introduce you to the powerful world of data visualization using Power BI. This course will guide you through the basics of creating visually appealing and meaningful reports, charts and graphs. You'll learn how to identify the right visualization for different types of data, and how to use Power BI's tools to build reports that tell compelling stories with data. Whether you're new to data visualization or looking to sharpen your skills, this course provides practical knowledge that you can apply immediately. By the end, you'll be equipped with foundational skills to help drive data-informed decisions.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Data visualization with Power BI
In this module, you'll explore the essentials of Power BI, including how to set up the software and navigate its interface. You'll be introduced to various visualization types, such as bar charts, line charts, and pie charts, learning how to create your first basic report. This module lays the groundwork for transforming raw data into visually compelling insights.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses Power BI, a leading tool for data visualization and business intelligence, which is widely used across industries
Develops skills in data storytelling, which is essential for communicating insights and influencing decision-making in organizations
Includes a capstone project to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing learners to apply their skills and build a portfolio piece
Explores design principles like color theory, typography, and layout, which are important for creating effective and visually appealing reports
Presented by Microsoft, a company recognized for its contributions to data analytics and business intelligence software
Focuses on transforming data into compelling narratives, which is essential for communicating insights clearly and persuasively

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Reviews summary

Fundamentals of data visualization using power bi

According to learners, this course provides a largely positive introduction to Power BI fundamentals. Students particularly highlight the clarity of the lectures and the practical final project, which allows them to apply learned skills. While it covers essential visualization types and introduces data storytelling, some learners feel it only provides a basic foundation and could benefit from more in-depth coverage of advanced features necessary for real-world scenarios. The pace is generally good for beginners, though those new to data concepts might find some parts challenging, and those with some prior experience may find early modules slow. Overall, it's seen as a solid starting point for understanding data visualization with Power BI.
Valuable module on presentation.
"The module on data storytelling was very insightful and helped me think about presenting data differently."
"Learning design principles helped me make my reports more persuasive and user-friendly."
"I appreciated the focus on how to communicate insights, not just build charts."
Suitable pace for new learners.
"The pace was perfect for someone like me who is a complete beginner in this area."
"I found some concepts moved a bit fast in certain sections without prior data analysis experience."
"Anyone with some prior business intelligence or data experience might find early modules move a bit slow."
Good introduction to Power BI basics.
"Provides a solid foundation in Power BI visualization techniques."
"I learned the essentials of creating reports and charts effectively."
"It's a great first step if you've never used Power BI or done data visualization before."
Explanations are easy to follow.
"The lectures were clear and well-paced, making complex topics accessible."
"Found the explanations very easy to understand, even for someone new to Power BI."
"Instructors did a great job breaking down the Power BI interface and tools."
Hands-on practice with Power BI.
"The final project was incredibly useful for applying everything learned in the course modules."
"Building the comprehensive report in the project solidified my understanding and skills."
"Really appreciated the hands-on exercises integrated throughout the learning path."
Could cover advanced topics.
"While a good overview, it doesn't go deep into advanced DAX functions or complex data modeling."
"Felt like the course just scratched the surface of Power BI's full capabilities."
"I would need to take other, more advanced courses for more complex, real-world scenarios."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Visualization Fundamentals with these activities:
Review Basic Statistics Concepts
Reinforce your understanding of fundamental statistical concepts to better interpret data visualizations.
Browse courses on Descriptive Statistics
Show steps
  • Review key statistical terms and formulas.
  • Work through practice problems involving data interpretation.
Explore 'The Visual Display of Quantitative Information'
Deepen your understanding of data visualization principles by studying a foundational text in the field.
View Beautiful Evidence on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and highlight key concepts.
  • Reflect on how these principles apply to Power BI.
Read 'Storytelling with Data'
Learn how to craft compelling narratives using data visualizations to enhance your Power BI reports.
View Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and... on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Apply the principles to improve your Power BI reports.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Follow Advanced Power BI Tutorials
Enhance your Power BI expertise by following tutorials on advanced topics such as DAX calculations and custom visuals.
Show steps
  • Search for tutorials on advanced Power BI features.
  • Follow the tutorials step-by-step.
  • Apply what you learn to your own Power BI projects.
Power BI Visualization Challenges
Sharpen your Power BI skills by completing visualization challenges that test your ability to create effective charts and graphs.
Show steps
  • Find online resources with Power BI visualization challenges.
  • Attempt each challenge, focusing on clarity and accuracy.
  • Compare your solutions with others and learn from them.
Analyze and Visualize Public Datasets
Apply your Power BI skills to analyze and visualize publicly available datasets, such as those from government agencies or research institutions.
Show steps
  • Find a public dataset that interests you.
  • Import the data into Power BI.
  • Create visualizations to explore the data.
  • Share your findings with others.
Create a Data Visualization Portfolio
Showcase your Power BI skills by creating a portfolio of data visualizations that demonstrate your ability to tell stories with data.
Show steps
  • Select several datasets to visualize.
  • Create a variety of charts and graphs using Power BI.
  • Write a brief description of each visualization.
  • Publish your portfolio online.

Career center

Learners who complete Data Visualization Fundamentals will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Report Developer
Report Developers are responsible for creating and maintaining reports, and this course directly addresses these skills. They use data from various sources to build clear, accurate, and insightful reports for managers and business users. The emphasis of this course on Power BI, along with its focus on data visualization, directly supports the skills needed by a report developer. The modules on creating different visualization types and data storytelling are especially useful for a report developer. The learner on this course builds a foundation for crafting reports that are easy to understand and drive decision making.
See salaries and explore the career path for Report Developer
Business Intelligence Analyst
A Business Intelligence Analyst uses data to inform business decisions, a process this course directly supports. The analyst gathers and interprets data, constructing reports and dashboards that highlight trends and insights. This course on data visualization using Power BI is ideal for those who want to build these kinds of reports. The modules on visualization and data storytelling are especially useful, helping the analyst to present data clearly and persuasively. This skillset is essential for understanding business needs and communicating data effectively to stakeholders.
See salaries and explore the career path for Business Intelligence Analyst
Data Visualization Specialist
Data Visualization Specialists focus on transforming complex data into easily understandable visual formats, and this course may be useful for those pursuing this career. These specialists use tools like Power BI to create charts, graphs, and dashboards that help stakeholders understand data and make informed decisions. A course focused on using Power BI is especially useful for those who wish to make their data clear, impactful, and persuasive. The modules that focus on visual elements, storytelling, and report creation are particularly relevant to the work a data visualization specialist does.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist
Data Analyst
A Data Analyst uses data to solve problems and inform decisions, and this course is particularly helpful to someone aspiring to be a Data Analyst. Data analysts often need to create reports and visualizations to communicate their findings to stakeholders. The modules of this course on visual data presentation, data storytelling, and Power BI directly translate to this work. This course may be useful in helping someone new to the field build a portfolio of projects to showcase skills and knowledge. This is particularly helpful for those who wish to communicate data in a clear and compelling way.
See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst
Analytics Consultant
Analytics Consultants help organizations use data to improve their performance, and this course builds a strong foundation for those in that role. Consultants often need to gather data, interpret it, and present their findings to clients. This course’s focus on data visualization using Power BI helps one to build persuasive and clear data-driven stories. The modules that teach the fundamentals of report creation using Power BI, data storytelling, and visual design are directly relevant to the work of an Analytics Consultant. Having training in these areas will allow the consultant to make data more compelling.
See salaries and explore the career path for Analytics Consultant
Marketing Analyst
Marketing Analysts use data to evaluate the performance of marketing campaigns, and this course supports this work. They need to present data in a clear, understandable way to marketing teams and stakeholders. Data visualization skills are highly beneficial in this kind of role, and this course in Power BI directly addresses this need. The modules on data storytelling, visual design, and report creation using Power BI are directly applicable to this career. When a marketing analyst can clearly communicate data, they can make a much stronger case for particular investments and strategies.
See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst
Project Manager
Project Managers often need to track progress, manage resources, and present updates to stakeholders, and this course provides skills that may be useful in this endeavor. The project manager often uses data to make decisions, and the ability to use data visualization tools can help project managers communicate information more effectively. The modules of this course that explore Power BI, data storytelling, and data design all support the work of a Project Manager. The ability to create clear reports and dashboards can greatly enhance a Project Manager's ability to keep stakeholders informed.
See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager
Financial Analyst
Financial analysts use data to assess the financial status of companies and make recommendations to stakeholders, and this course may be useful for these financial professionals. The course allows learners to develop core data visualization skills while building reports, which are both essential parts of the financial analyst's work. The course directly addresses the need to transform financial data into insightful charts and graphs using Power BI. Modules on data storytelling, visual elements, and report creation are directly applicable to the daily work of a financial analyst.
See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst
Operations Analyst
Operations analysts work to improve processes and efficiency, and this course may be useful for them. They often need to analyze data and present findings to management, using reports and dashboards. A course covering Power BI tools, data storytelling techniques, and report design directly applies to the kind of work that an operations analyst performs. The ability to present data clearly and persuasively is essential to convincing others to support efficiency improvements, and this course supports that.
See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst
Sales Analyst
Sales Analysts use data to track sales performance, understand customer behavior, and identify opportunities for growth, and this course may be useful to them. They communicate these findings to sales teams and managers using reports and dashboards. This course’s introduction to Power BI and its modules on data visualization and storytelling are particularly useful for any sales analyst. The ability to present data in a visually appealing and easy-to-understand format can greatly improve the effectiveness of a sales analyst’s work.
See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst
Management Consultant
Management consultants advise organizations on how to improve their performance, and this course may be useful to someone in this role. These consultants must analyze data, draw conclusions, and present findings to clients. This course on data visualization using Power BI helps with the report creation, design, and storytelling needed by a management consultant. The modules on Power BI, creating different types of visualizations, and data presentation can be applied to the kind of reporting work a consultant does.
See salaries and explore the career path for Management Consultant
Research Analyst
Research analysts analyze data to inform decisions, and this course may be useful to those in this field. They often create presentations and reports for stakeholders, and this course can help them with this work. The course introduces tools for data visualization and report building. The course also explores visual design, and helps the learner to present information clearly. This may help a research analyst communicate findings more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Research Analyst
Human Resources Analyst
Human Resources Analysts use data to analyze various HR metrics, and this course may be useful to them. They develop and present reports on information such as employee turnover, compensation, and hiring trends. They often need to use tools such as Power BI to convey data and to make their presentations easily digestible. This course introduces tools, methods, and design principles that can help HR analysts make the data they present more visually compelling and easier to understand.
See salaries and explore the career path for Human Resources Analyst
Educator
Educators often use data to drive their teaching decisions and to assess student performance, which is where this course may be useful. They may need to develop data visualizations to interpret student data. A course in building data visualizations may be helpful to educators who are looking to communicate data to students or other educators. This course touches upon the design and storytelling aspects of presenting data, which can help educators present data more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Educator
Technical Writer
Technical writers create documentation and reports that can include data, which is where this course may be useful. They often need to translate complex information so that it is easily understandable. They may need to include charts and graphs in their work to help illustrate concepts. The data visualization skills taught in this course, particularly how to present data clearly, may allow technical writers to enhance the documentation they create.
See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Data Visualization Fundamentals.
Cover image
Storytelling with You
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to creating effective data visualizations that tell compelling stories. It covers principles of visual design, data communication, and persuasive presentation. It is particularly useful for the 'Data Storytelling' module, offering practical advice on how to transform data into actionable insights. This book is commonly used by business professionals and is highly recommended for additional reading.
Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and Deliver a...
Paperback
$$
Storytelling with You: Plan, Create, and Deliver a...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Beautiful Evidence
Save
Classic in the field of data visualization, focusing on principles of graphical integrity and effective visual design. It provides a framework for creating clear, precise, and efficient visualizations. While it may be more valuable as additional reading, it offers a deep dive into the theory behind data visualization. This book is commonly referenced by data visualization professionals.
Beautiful Evidence
Hardcover
$$

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Course image
Effort
4 weeks of study, 3-5 hours/week.
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
Microsoft
Instructor
Microsoft
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Uses Power BI, a leading tool for data visualization and business intelligence, which is widely used across industries
Develops skills in data storytelling, which is essential for communicating insights and influencing decision-making in organizations
Includes a capstone project to simulate real-world scenarios, allowing learners to apply their skills and build a portfolio piece
Explores design principles like color theory, typography, and layout, which are important for creating effective and visually appealing reports
Presented by Microsoft, a company recognized for its contributions to data analytics and business intelligence software
Focuses on transforming data into compelling narratives, which is essential for communicating insights clearly and persuasively
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