QuickStart to Power BI for Analysts & Users - Introduction to Power BI Virtual Classroom Live March 03, 2025

Course Overview

Module 1: Introduction to Self-Service BI Solutions

Introduces business intelligence (BI) and how to self-serve with BI.

Topics

• Introduction to business intelligence
• Introduction to data analysis
• Introduction to data visualization
• Overview of self-service BI
• Considerations for self-service BI
• Microsoft tools for self-service BI
• Hands-on: Exploring an Enterprise BI solution
• Viewing reports
• Creating a Power BI report
• Creating a Power BI dashboard

Module 2: Introducing Power BI

This module introduces Power BI desktop, and explores the features that enable the rapid creation and publication of sophisticated data visualizations.

Topics

• Power BI
• The Power BI service
• Hands-on: Creating a Power BI dashboard
• Connecting to Power BI data
• Create a Power BI dashboard

Module 3: Power BI Essentials

At the end of this module students will be able to explain the rationale and advantages of using Power BI.

Topics

• Using Excel as a data source for Power BI
• The Power BI data model
• Using databases as a data source for Power BI
• The Power BI service
• Hands-on: Importing data into Power BI
• Importing Excel files into Power BI
• Viewing reports from Excel files

Module 4: Shaping and Combining Data

With Power BI desktop you can shape and combine data with powerful, built-in tools. This module introduces the tools that are available for preparing your data and transforming it into a form ready for reporting.

Topics

• Power BI desktop queries
• Shaping data
• Combining data
• Hands-on: Shaping and combining data
• Shape power BI data
• Combine Power BI data

Module 5: Modelling data

 

This module describes how to shape and enhance data.

Topics

• Relationships
• DAX queries
• Calculations and measures
• What is DAX (Overview)
• What is DAX (Tabular)
• Creating Calculated Columns (Basics)
• Conditional and Logical Functions
• Creating Calculated Measures
• Time Intelligence (Overview)
• Time Intelligence (Time Intelligence Functions)
• Using X-Functions and A-Functions
• DAX as a Query Language
• Hands-on: Let’s Model Data

Module 6: Interactive Data Visualizations

This module describes how to create and manage interactive data visualizations.

Topics

• Creating Power BI Reports
• Page Layout and Formatting
• Working with Multiple Visualizations
• Creating Charts
• Histograms
• Managing a Power BI Solution
• Power BI Service Settings
• Power BI Desktop Settings

Module 7:  Direct Connectivity

• Cloud Data
• Connecting to Big Data
• Connecting to Analysis Services
• Direct Connectivity to Analysis Services
• Using the On-Premises Gateway
• SSAS Multidimensional Models

Bonus Topics / Time Permitting

This content will be included with your course materials, and will be addressed in class if time permits.

Module 8: The Developer API

• The Developer API
• The Interactive API Console
• Custom Visuals
• Using Custom Visuals
• Using the Developer API

Module 9: PowerBI Mobile

• Power BI Mobile Apps
• Creating Dashboards for Mobile Devices
• Power BI for iOS and Android
• Power BI for Windows 10
• Using the Power BI Mobile App
• Annotating Dashboards
• Power BI Embedded
• Adding Visualizations to an App
• Power BI Community

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, students should have:

• A general knowledge of database concepts (fields, records, relationships).
• An awareness of key business priorities such as revenue, profitability, and financial accounting 
• Familiarity with Excel.