# Data Analytics Foundations Course Online

Canonical URL: <https://vdci.edu/courses/data-analytics-foundations-online>

## Overview

This beginner-friendly course gives you a clear picture of how data analytics works in practice, from the first review of your data through analysis and decision making. Instead of diving straight into tools, it begins by unpacking key ideas like data distributions, descriptive and inferential statistics, and the ways organizations use analytics to spot patterns, predict outcomes, and plan their next move. You'll also look at how Big Data and modern analytics tools are reshaping the way decisions get made across industries.

Practical exercises run throughout, helping you put what you learn to work on realistic problems. You'll get comfortable with statistical concepts such as probability distributions, correlation, and regression, then move into forecasting with trendlines, moving averages, and scenario analysis. The course also covers data visualization and prescriptive techniques, including charts, Pivot Tables, and optimization tools like Solver, so you can turn your analysis into insights that lead to smarter decisions.

## What you'll learn

- Grasp core statistical concepts including measures of central tendency, data dispersion, and the normal curve
- Examine descriptive and inferential statistics, including probability distributions like binomial and Poisson
- Analyze and forecast data using correlation, linear regression, and multiple regression techniques
- Put predictive analytics to work with tools like trendlines, moving averages, and scenario modeling
- Build clear data visualizations using charts, histograms, icon sets, color scales, sparklines, and pivot tables
- Explore prescriptive analytics techniques such as Solver and linear programming to sharpen decision making

## Prerequisites

Students should have experience equivalent to our [Intermediate Excel Course Online](https://vdci.edu/courses/excel-level-ii-intermediate-course-online).

## Curriculum

#### Basic Data Analysis

- Measures of Central Tendency
- Measures of Position
- Measures of Dispersion
- The Normal Curve
- Descriptive Statistics

#### Predictive Analytics I

- Forecasting
- Series Forecast

#### Data Visualization I

- Charts
- Icon Sets
- Histograms
- Moving Average

#### Predictive Analytics

- Correlation
- Regression - overview
- Regression - analysis
- Linear regression
- Multiple regression

#### Probability

- Probability I
- Probability II
- Binomial Probability
- Poisson Probability

#### Prescriptive Analytics I

- What If Analysis
- Data Table (3 variables)
- Scenario Manager
- Scenario Manager - Pivot

#### Data Visualization II

- Sparklines
- Color Scales
- Drawing Shapes
- Pivot Tables
- Pivot Charts

#### Prescriptive Analytics II

- Solver - overview
- Linear Programming
- The Solver model
- Non-Linear Programming
- Evolutionary Solver

## Instructors

### Garfield Stinvil — Instructor

Garfield is an experienced software trainer with over 16 years of real-world professional experience. He started as a data analyst with a Wall Street real estate investment company & continued working in the professional development department at New York Road Runners Organization. He enjoys bringing humor to whatever he teaches and loves conveying ideas in novel ways that help others learn more efficiently.

Since starting his professional training career in 2016, he has worked with several corporate clients including Adobe, HBO, Amazon, Yelp, Mitsubishi, WeWork, Michael Kors, Christian Dior, and Hermès. 

Outside of work, his hobbies include rescuing & archiving at-risk artistic online media using his database management skills.

### Colin Jaffe — Instructor

Colin Jaffe is a programmer, writer, and teacher with a passion for creative code, customizable computing environments, and simple puns. He loves teaching code, from the fundamentals of algorithmic thinking to the business logic and user flow of application building—he particularly enjoys teaching JavaScript, Python, API design, and front-end frameworks.

Colin has taught code to a diverse group of students since learning to code himself, including young men of color at All-Star Code, elementary school kids at The Coding Space, and marginalized groups at Pursuit.

Colin lives in Brooklyn with his wife, two kids, and many intricate board games.

### Brian McClain — Instructor

Brian McClain is an experienced instructor, curriculum developer, and web developer. Brian served as Director for a coding bootcamp, where he is now a lead instructor and course developer for both JavaScript and Python. He teaches Web Development, JavaScript, Python for Data Science, Machine Learning, and AI. He taught Python Data Science and Machine Learning as an Adjunct Professor of Computer Science at Westchester County College.

Brian is also an active industry professional in the field of generative AI app development. His website and iOS app, Artmink, provide appraisals of art and antiques from user-uploaded images.

## Pricing

**Tuition:** $595