Since February 2020, one of our best-selling titles has been Data Analysis and Visualization Using Excel. We affectionately call it DAVE. Just before the pandemic, we did a Logically Speaking focused on DAVE and, given the successful adoption by so many training providers, we thought it made sense to refresh that newsletter—we want all LO training customers to benefit from the power of DAVE.

Jim Gabalski
VP, Sales and Marketing

In this issue:

• Growth Opportunities
• Keys to Selling
• Curriculum Corner
• Customer Spotlight
• Instructor Spotlight: Penny Morgan
• Instructor Spotlight: Kelly Fitzpatrick 
• Latest Products
• Content Revisions
• Teaching Prep
• Client Services Corner
• Inside LO
• Subscribe

​​​​​Everyday Data Scientist Is Your Typical Excel User

by Jon O'Keefe, Technology Education Jedi

In February of 2020, I wrote to all of you to tell you that data “is the most valuable resource of the next 10 years.” That statement has turned out to be even more true now than it was two years ago, as organizations have continued to amass data for commerce purposes. Every company is still looking to extract maximum value from their data, which is why we have officially entered the era of Data Science 2.0. 

Data Science 2.0 is the move away from the “academic” Data Scientist to the practicing Data Scientist, who is not only well versed in the theory of data analysis, but also understands the tools that are being used every day at organizations all across the globe. Whether your clients are large, Fortune 500 companies or medium to small businesses, there is one ubiquitous Data Science and Analytics tool: Excel. Excel is the one constant across the ever-changing Data Science field. Every company has Excel users, and for many it is their only Data Science program. People are now learning Excel with Data Science in mind, and your typical Excel user is now an everyday Data Scientist. 

If you’re offering Excel training, you’re now offering Data Science training. Whether we are talking about PivotTables, data wrangling with VBA, or prescriptive analytics utilizing the Data Analysis Toolpak, your customers want to strengthen their Data Science skillset in Excel. The future of Excel training is in training these everyday Data Scientists on the skills they need to help their businesses be successful. 
 

​​​​​An Interview with DAVE Co-Author Bob Carver

by Jon O'Keefe, Technology Education Jedi

Bob Carver specializes in content strategy, training, and consulting on data analysis, digital marketing, and cloud technologies. A former Microsoft Certified Trainer, Bob has run a training and marketing agency since 2000. In 2012, he refocused Carver Technology Consulting LLC to emphasize data science consulting, data-driven content, data science training, and development. Let's see what insights Bob has about DAVE. 

Jedi Jon: Can you tell us the types of students who will benefit from taking DAVE? 

Bob Carver: I see four different types of students: 

1. Excel Power Users focusing on data analysis: People who use Excel multiple times a week and wish to improve their skills to become full-fledged Data Analysts. 

2. Excel Data Analysts who want to learn data visualization. 

3. Accidental Data Analysts: This is by far the biggest group. So many roles now have access to large amounts of data and involve some form of analysis and reporting. Those people know that the more they do it, the more they're asked to do it. This class gets them the skills they need to do data analysis well, and to present the results in the right way. 

4. The Data Reporter: This is the person who only occasionally needs to dive into data and to make some visuals to report it. These people are at the starting point to becoming accidental Data Analysts. 

Jedi Jon: How is DAVE different from a standard Part 2 or Part 3 Excel course? 

Bob Carver: A lot of the same fundamental knowledge is included because it has to be (tables, formulas, functions). But where Excel Parts 2 and 3 are features classes teaching you everything you might need to make Excel walk and talk, the DAVE course assumes specifically that you need to connect to data, analyze it, and present it. Everything comes back to the four key steps: Get your data into Excel. Prepare it for analysis. Do the analysis. Present findings and recommendations effectively. 

Jedi Jon: When you were writing DAVE, what was the one skill or activity you were most excited to include? 

Bob Carver: The best practices for presenting charts. It really is a game-changing way to look at how to communicate with visuals. It gets students away from just throwing data up on a slide for others to figure out and moves them to a place where they can communicate specific messages in a compelling fashion. That approach will help anyone who takes the course communicate better in any job role. 

May 2022 Instructor Excellence Award: Penny Morgan

Penny Morgan Technical Instructor Levi, Ray & Shoup (LRS) Connect on LinkedIn

​​​​​Penny Morgan is a Technical Instructor with 28 years of experience and currently supports the training schedule at Levi, Ray & Shoup, Inc. (LRS) Education Services. Penny began her career shortly after graduating from Eastern Illinois University and has been teaching ever since. After beginning her career, as an applications instructor, Penny found herself moving more into the world of advanced technology education. For the past 21 years, she’s been a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), focusing primarily on Microsoft Server and Azure courses, while holding 28 licenses and certifications.  

During college, Penny knew she wanted to do something within the realm of teaching, even though she didn’t pursue a degree in Education. Instead, Penny was pulled in the direction of getting a business degree. During her senior year, a student who had graduated the year before Penny came back to give a presentation on her new career as a software instructor. The student explained how she was teaching software applications to adults in the corporate world, and it struck a major chord with her. In that moment, Penny knew that’s something she wanted to do. 

Penny teaches primarily Microsoft 365, Azure courses, Microsoft Office application courses, as well as several CompTIA certification courses (A+, Network+, and Project+). “I have always preferred and enjoyed the variety of courses I am able to teach, as I get to train everyone from the basic end user to the more advanced system administrator across a wide variety of systems and applications.” One of Penny’s favorite things about her job? In the 28 years she has been teaching, she has learned something new every single day. For Penny, that keeps things exciting and challenging in the best way. “Each course brings with it a very different mindset and method of teaching, but it’s that change of pace and challenge that I’ve always enjoyed.”  

Penny loves seeing the excitement on someone’s face, or their reaction when they’ve learned something new and can see the potential of using it in their own day-to-day tasks. Whether it’s an end user who’s seeing or learning something for the very first time, or an experienced administrator who may think they’ve seen and or done it all, for Penny it’s rewarding to know that she’s helped them in some way. “It just feels great to know I can share my knowledge and experience with someone and provide them with information and skills that just might make their life just a little bit easier.”  

Throughout her career, Penny has learned and taught such a wide variety of different subjects and has earned several certifications along the way. “It takes a lot of time and effort to earn those credentials initially, but also to maintain them over the years. It’s a very good feeling of accomplishment to look over that list and know I did it. For me, all I can hope for the future is to continue doing what I’ve been extremely fortunate to do for the last 28 years. I do believe that the best instructors have to have a passion for teaching and without a doubt, I do. I’ve seen so many changes in the world of technology and the way we teach it over the years and can’t wait to see where it takes us in the future!” 

May 2022 Instructor Excellence Award: Kelly Fitzpatrick

Kelly Fitzpatrick Associate Professor of Mathematics County College of Morris (CCM) Connect on LinkedIn

Kelly Fitzpatrick is an Associate Professor of Mathematics and has taught at the County College of Morris (CCM) since 2010.  In addition to her work in the Mathematics Department, Kelly also teaches in the Workforce Development Program. Kelly is the principal investigator for NSF ATE grant # 2000887, Expanding Pathways to a Data Science Career by Developing a Certification in Data Science and Analytics, where her project was recognized by the National Science Foundation bringing key opportunities to faculty and students. Kelly also serves as the Chair of the ASA/AMATYC Joint Committee focused on improving the quality of statistic education in 2-year colleges. 

Prior to joining CCM, Kelly worked in hedge fund management where she developed quantitative strategies for various financial firms. A graduate from Columbia University, M.A. and B.A. in Mathematics from the State University of New York at Geneseo, her work in the financial services industry helped hone her skills and application of data science principles in practical application.  

Kelly enjoys teaching her students by bringing real-world situations and scenarios into the fold. “By incorporating this into my lectures, students are able to learn technology that is relevant in the workforce. That way, my students have an idea of what they might face in the future, and they will always be prepared because of what I have taught them.” Kelly gives her students guidance on topics that are difficult to understand or even intimidating at first, including emerging technologies, because these are very important skills needed in the industry right now. “I think it is important to teach students skills that are relevant for the workforce. In a recent ‘The State of the State of Innovation in New Jersey’ report, it was outlined that there is a large skills gap in New Jersey for applicants to roles that require data science, AI and machine learning knowledge. The most effective training provides knowledge of digital technologies including Big Data, AI and Machine Learning. These skills are the highest in demand and most relevant for our industries.” 

For Kelly, the most rewarding part of her job is what she brings to her students. In her eyes, she gives them the knowledge and skills they need to flourish in whatever comes next for them. If Kelly can make a student more knowledgeable and help them even in the smallest way and have them leave her classes knowing just a little bit more than they did before they came in, then she believes that she has done her job. Expressing just how proud Kelly is of her students, she shared a little bit about what they have accomplished. “Several of my students have passed the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam after completing the Data Visualization Certificate that is offered at CCM. This program prepares students for the exam, and the Logical Operations material is an excellent resource for our students. Recently, five CCM students won two of three awards in a national DataFest competition earning Best in Show and Best Use of Statistical Analysis. The American Statistical Association (ASA) DataFest is a celebration of data in which teams of undergraduates work around the clock to find and share meaning in a large, rich, and complex data set.” 

As for the future, Kelly does not plan to slow down anytime soon and will continue to focus on teaching in-demand skills in the industry and will continue to do her part in preparing her students for their future in the workforce. “As new technologies emerge, it will be paramount to offer courses and programs that align with those needs,” said Kelly. 

Submit Your Instructor Nominations for June

We're recognizing instructors who have reached key milestones and made a meaningful impact in the training world. Do you want to nominate an instructor who you feel deserves to be recognized in the next Logically Speaking? Visit the Logical Operations Instructor Community (LOIC) page to get more insight into what the Instructor Spotlight is all about.
 

Free DAVE Train the Trainer

by Jon O'Keefe, Technology Education Jedi

Logical Operations is offering a FREE “Train the Trainer” for our Data Analysis and Visualization with Microsoft® Excel® (“DAVE”) class. This TTT is a full recording of our original First Teach with author Bob Carver and will help you prepare to offer this engaging class. 

To receive this amazing offer, please email sales@logicaloperations.com and your Educational Consultant will reach out to you with a one-time use access key. They can also provide you with an evaluation of the DAVE courseware. 

To help you market the class to prospective students, we have also created the DAVE Marketing Kit, which contains email templates, social media advertising posts, and other useful information to help you fill your classes. 
 

Contact Us for a Free DAVE Evaluation PDF

by Chandra Foster, VP, Global Client Services

Take your students’ Excel skills to the next level with Data Analysis and Visualization with Microsoft® Excel® (“DAVE”)! 

Follow the store link and place your order today: store.logicaloperations.com.

Part # 091157 

SE – Student Digital 
S – Student Print and Digital
IE – Instructor Digital 
I – Instructor Print and Digital

To see the outline, click the link below: 

https://store.logicaloperations.com/catalog/product/view/id/29520/s/data-analysis-and-visualization-with-microsoft-excel/ 

To review the evaluation PDF, contact us today!   

We can be reached at assist@logicaloperations.com or 1-800-456-4677 option 2. 

Meet Rachel Halzel, Educational Consultant

Rachel Halzel Educational Consultant Connect on LinkedIn ​​​

If I had to describe myself in one word, I’m a learner. I studied Geography for my undergraduate degree and International Studies in graduate school to learn about the people and places of the world, and I derive great satisfaction developing competencies in areas I initially knew very little about. I have worked in the education/advocacy field for most of my professional life, inside and outside of the classroom. I look at the LO courseware through the lens of a teacher or instructor, and I am always impressed at how our instructor guides make it so easy to effectively teach a class while still allowing room for the instructor’s own touches.  

As an Educational Consultant, it is my role to help clients navigate our vast catalog and guide them to the courseware that best fits their needs. Currently, I am really into what we call DAVE and DAWN—Data Analysis and Visualization with Microsoft® Excel® and  Programming and Data Wrangling with VBA and Excel®. These two courses fly under the radar a bit, so I make it my goal to bring them to the attention of any organization that already has Excel Parts 1 and 2 on their schedule. Anyone that has a foundational level of Excel is a candidate for these classes; they will bring the student’s ability to analyze data to the next level. These courses address all the challenges that come with working with large datasets—students learn to prepare the data for analysis, perform the analysis, and present the data with impactful, story-telling visuals, and it is all done within Excel.    

What I like best about working at LO is what makes any job great—the people. Although it isn’t something that is splashed all over the LO website, it only takes a couple of conversations with an LO employee to see that this is a place that values all types of diversity. People have a variety of backgrounds, experiences, and opinions, and they are all welcomed. There is a culture of openness and open-mindedness, and I believe we have stronger products because of it.  

Fun Fact: I have worked as a ski instructor for private clients (mainly youth) from all over the world at Beaver Creek Resort, Colorado for 8 seasons, although only very part-time for the last few years. I don’t like to run a lot of drills—I like to work on building confidence and encouraging a sense of exploration, once you have those two things, the skills develop naturally. Give me a ring if you are ever in town and we can take a few runs down the mountain!