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Looker Data Explorer - Qwik Start

This is a Google Cloud Self-Paced Lab. In this lab, you will create a series of visualizations from the Airports and Flights datasets and save them to a dashboard in Looker.

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Syllabus

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May be of interest to students with no prior experience with Looker

Offers a valuable opportunity to practice creating visualizations and dashboards in Looker

Provides instruction from Google Cloud Training, a reputable organization in the field

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Reviews summary

Quick start to looker data exploration

According to students, this course is a highly effective quick start to Looker, particularly praised for its hands-on labs and clear, step-by-step instructions. Learners found it an excellent introduction for those new to the platform, helping them quickly grasp the Looker interface and the basics of dashboard creation and visualizations. While it provides good foundational knowledge for beginners, some experienced users noted it could be too basic or superficial, recommending it primarily for absolute novices seeking a fast, practical overview rather than in-depth theoretical knowledge or advanced problem-solving.

Reviewers praised the easy-to-follow steps and clear guidance.

"The labs are clear and guide you step-by-step through creating dashboards and visualizations."

"Clear instructions and relevant dataset. I could follow along easily and gained confidence in navigating Looker."

"The lab environment worked well, and the steps were easy to follow."

Serves as an excellent introductory course for new Looker users.

"Excellent quick start to Looker... Highly recommend for beginners."

"Perfect for those new to Looker or just needing a refresher."

"Good foundational knowledge for those just starting out."

The course provides a highly effective practical experience for Looker.

"The hands-on exercise really helped cement the concepts. Great for a quick introduction."

"I learned how to explore data and build simple dashboards quickly. Perfect for those new to Looker..."

"A truly 'qwik start' lab. It gets you familiar with the Looker interface and basic data exploration concepts."

The highly guided nature means less opportunity for independent problem solving.

"It felt a bit too guided, almost like just clicking buttons. Would prefer more problem-solving."

"Poor value for time. Just a click-through exercise. No real learning involved if you're not a complete novice."

Some found the content too basic or superficial for experienced learners.

"Good introduction, but it's quite basic. If you have some prior data experience, it might feel a bit too simple."

"Too superficial. I didn't feel like I learned much beyond navigating the interface."

"I expected a bit more depth even for a 'qwik start'. It gives you the bare minimum."

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 Looker Data Explorer - Qwik Start with these activities:

Organize Course Resources

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Maintain a well-organized and easily accessible repository of course materials to support your learning journey.

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Create a central location to store all course materials, such as notes, assignments, and resources.
Establish a consistent filing system to categorize and organize materials.
Regularly review and update your materials to ensure they are up-to-date and relevant.
Take advantage of technology tools, such as note-taking apps or cloud storage, to enhance accessibility and organization.

Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics

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Gain a comprehensive understanding of data visualization best practices and principles to complement your course learning.

View Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly.
Take notes and highlight important concepts.
Discuss the concepts with other students or a study group.

Google Cloud Platform Data Studio Documentation

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Review the documentation provided by Google Cloud Platform to solidify your understanding of Data Studio for data visualization.

Browse courses on Data Studio

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Explore the documentation website for Data Studio.
Search for specific topics related to your learning objectives.
Read the documentation pages thoroughly.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Data Visualization Workshop

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Complement your course learnings with hands-on experience in a workshop setting to deepen your understanding of data visualization techniques.

Browse courses on Data Visualization Tools

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Attend a data visualization workshop led by experienced practitioners.
Participate in exercises and activities to practice the concepts covered in the workshop.
Ask questions and engage with the workshop instructors and other participants.

Create Data Studio Dashboards

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Build multiple dashboards with real-world data to reinforce the concepts learned in the course.

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Gather and prepare your data.
Create a new dashboard in Looker.
Add visualizations to your dashboard.
Customize the look and feel of your dashboard.
Publish your dashboard and share it with others.

Data Visualization Report

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Create a written report that showcases your data visualization skills and deepens your understanding of the concepts covered in the course.

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Choose a topic for your report.
Gather and analyze data.
Create data visualizations to illustrate your findings.
Write a report that summarizes your findings and explains the significance of your visualizations.

Data Visualization Presentation

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Practice your presentation skills and solidify your grasp of data visualization techniques.

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Develop presentation outline.
Design slides.
Rehearse.
Give presentation.

Career center

Learners who complete Looker Data Explorer - Qwik Start will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Visualization Specialist

Data Visualization Specialists are responsible for creating visualizations that can be used to communicate data insights to stakeholders. This course can help you learn the basics of data visualization and how to use Looker to create visualizations that are both informative and engaging. This course may also be helpful for Data Visualization Specialists who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist

Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to build models that can be used to predict future outcomes. This course can help you learn the basics of data science and how to use Looker to explore and analyze data. This course may also be helpful for Data Scientists who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Scientist

Business Analyst

Business Analysts use data to help businesses improve their operations and make better decisions. This course can help you learn the basics of business analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Business Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Data Analyst

Data Analysts are responsible for collecting, cleaning, and analyzing data to help businesses make better decisions. This course can help you learn the basics of data analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Data Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining software applications. This course can help you learn the basics of software engineering and how to use Looker to explore and analyze data. This course may also be helpful for Software Engineers who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Product Manager

Product Managers are responsible for overseeing the development and launch of new products and features. This course can help you learn the basics of product management and how to use Looker to track and analyze product metrics. This course may also be helpful for Product Managers who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Manager

Marketing Analyst

Marketing Analysts are responsible for analyzing data to help businesses understand their customers and develop more effective marketing campaigns. This course can help you learn the basics of marketing analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Marketing Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Analyst

Sales Analyst

Sales Analysts are responsible for analyzing data to help businesses understand their sales performance and identify opportunities for growth. This course can help you learn the basics of sales analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Sales Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sales Analyst

Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts are responsible for analyzing data to help businesses make better financial decisions. This course can help you learn the basics of financial analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Financial Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst

Operations Analyst

Operations Analysts are responsible for analyzing data to help businesses improve their operations and make better decisions. This course can help you learn the basics of operations analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Operations Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Analyst

Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts are responsible for analyzing data to help businesses identify and manage risks. This course can help you learn the basics of risk analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Risk Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Analyst

Compliance Analyst

Compliance Analysts are responsible for ensuring that businesses are compliant with all applicable laws and regulations. This course can help you learn the basics of compliance analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to track and monitor compliance. This course may also be helpful for Compliance Analysts who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Analyst

Auditor

Auditors are responsible for examining and evaluating financial and operational information to ensure that it is accurate and reliable. This course can help you learn the basics of auditing and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Auditors who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Auditor

Consultant

Consultants provide advice and guidance to businesses on a variety of topics, including data analysis. This course can help you learn the basics of data analysis and how to use Looker to create visualizations that can be used to identify trends and patterns. This course may also be helpful for Consultants who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Consultant

Data Engineer

Data Engineers are responsible for designing and building the infrastructure that is used to store and process data. This course can help you learn the basics of data engineering and how to use Looker to explore and analyze data. This course may also be helpful for Data Engineers who want to learn more about using Looker to create dashboards.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Reading list

We've selected six 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 Looker Data Explorer - Qwik Start.

Data Visualisation

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Serves as a reference for various data visualization techniques and chart types. It helps learners understand the strengths and weaknesses of different visualizations and how to choose the most appropriate ones for their data.

Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven...

Paperback

Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven...

Paperback

$$$

Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven...

Paperback

$$$

Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Data Visualisation: A Handbook for Data Driven...

Kindle Edition

$$$$

Data Visualization

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Provides a comprehensive foundation in data visualization principles, covering various visualization types, design principles, and best practices.

Data Visualization: A Successful Design Process: A...

Paperback

Data Visualization: Representing Information on...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Data Visualization Design and Utilization (Korean...

Paperback

$$$

Data Visualization: Representing Information on...

Save

Focuses on data visualization for real-world applications, providing valuable insights and best practices for creating actionable and informative dashboards.

Data Visualization: Representing Information on...

Kindle Edition

$$$

Getting to Know Connected Mathematics

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Offers a comprehensive introduction to Looker for beginners. It covers core concepts, data exploration techniques, and basic visualization practices. It can be beneficial as a starting point for learners with no prior experience in Looker.

Getting to Know Connected Mathematics: An...

Paperback

Python for Data Analysis

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Offers a comprehensive introduction to Python for data analysis, providing a valuable foundation for Looker developers who want to automate tasks and extend the platform's functionality.

Python for Data Analysis

Paperback

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Python for Data Analysis

Kindle Edition

Check price

Eloquent JavaScript, 3rd Edition

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Offers a thorough introduction to JavaScript, providing a strong technical foundation for Looker developers who want to extend the platform's capabilities.

Eloquent JavaScript, 3rd Edition: A Modern...

Paperback

Eloquent JavaScript, 3rd Edition: A Modern...

Kindle Edition

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