Training Opportunities

Information Technology (ITS) Training Services will be used to coordinate all Data Warehouse Training.  ITS will maintain a listing of all Data Warehouse Training seminars available, dates and times, instructor names as well as how many seats are yet available. 

  1. If you click on the following link:  http://its.psu.edu/training/admin_comp/index.html
  2. Then select ‘Register for training’ from the vertical navigation bar on the right.
  3. You will be prompted for your Penn State Access account and password.
  4. You could be prompted to enter in contact information.  This is only done one time and will get your information into the ITS Training System.
  5. Click on the Seminars button.
  6. Then click on ‘Administrative Computing’ link – or – enter Data Warehouse in the search box.

This will give you a listing of all Data Warehouse classes and the dates/times they are being offered. 

 

The suggested training sequence for becoming a proficient Data Warehouse user:  

  1. Data Warehouse & EIS: An Overview and Comparison

    This course describes Penn State's Data Warehouse and the Enterprise Information Systems (EIS); it does not include hands-on computer training. This course provides an overview and comparison of the EIS and the Data Warehouse. It is designed to help learners choose which solution is best for them for accessing data. Participants will learn about the advantages and disadvantages of each option and will be shown sample queries using each as a source for data. Topics:

    • Data available using each option
    • Steps for accessing each option
    • Security issues
    • Current and future training opportunities for each option

  2. Data Warehouse Instructional materials (PowerPoint presentations)

    - Introduction to the Data Warehouse
    - Selecting a Query Tool
    - Learning the Data

  3. Data Warehouse: Introduction to Queries Using MS Access

    Prerequisite(s): Data Warehouse access is required; Data Warehouse & EIS: An Overview and Comparison or equivalent knowledge and skills.

    This course is designed for new users of Microsoft Access who will use Access to retrieve data from Penn State's Data Warehouse. The program covers only those features of Access that are needed to retrieve and manipulate Data Warehouse data effectively and efficiently. While learning Access, you will also learn how to use Web resources to identify the databases, tables, and fields needed to retrieve data that you are looking for. This course makes use of a training database that includes tables from the Student Database. The program emphasizes those tables and fields in the Student Database that are most commonly used. Even if you do not use Student data, this course will provide you with skills that you can apply to the data that you work with. A course manual will be provided in this workshop.

    Objectives:

    • Describe Database fundamentals
    • Describe Penn State Data Warehouse fundamentals
    • Connect to the Data Warehouse
    • Create simple queries
    • Create new tables from a query
    • Sort and filter query results
    • Explore the basics of table joins
    • Describe Data Warehouse security

  4. Review of the Data Warehouse Documentation for the database you'll be using

  5. Data Warehouse: Advanced Queries Using MS Access

    Prerequisite(s): Data Warehouse access is required; Data Warehouse: Introduction to Queries Using MS Access or equivalent knowledge and skills.

    The program covers only those features of Access that are needed to retrieve and manipulate Data Warehouse data effectively and efficiently. This course makes use of a training database that includes tables from the student Database. However, even if you do not use Student data, it will provide you with skills and concepts that can be applied to the data that you work with. A course manual will be provided in this workshop.

    Objectives:

    • Use Mathematical, Relational, Boolean, String, and Miscellaneous Operators
    • Explore query types including Update, Append, Delete, Parameter and Find Duplicates Queries
    • Use Multiple Joins to eliminate duplicate records
    • Pull User IDs in order to create mass email lists
    • Use the ISIS and IBIS codeset databases
    • Transfer SQL code from an email into an Access query

  6. Data Warehouse: Introduction to Reports Using MS Access

    Prerequisite(s): Data Warehouse access is required; Data Warehouse: Introduction to Queries Using MS Access and Data Warehouse: Advanced Queries Using MS Access or equivalent knowledge and skills.

    This course builds upon the knowledge and skills presented in Data Warehouse: Introduction to Queries Using MS Access and Data Warehouse: Advanced Queries Using MS Access. Only those features of Microsoft Access that are needed to effectively and efficient retrieve and manipulate Data Warehouse data are covered. This course uses a training database delivered from the Student Database in the Data Warehouse. Even if you do not work with the Student data, the concepts and skills from this program may be applied to any data with which you work. A course manual will be provided in this workshop.

    Objectives:

    • Edit Reports in Design View
    • Use Expressions in Reports
    • Use Conditional Formatting
    • Set properties for the various sections of a report
    • Create mailing labels
    • Insert calculations into a report




Tutorials and Additional Training: 

  • Tutorial: Setting up MS Access for use with the Data Warehouse
    For first time you access the Data Warehouse, you will need to complete the steps illustrated here in this tutorial. It describes the process of configuring Microsoft Access to be able to import data from the Warehouse.

  • Microsoft Access Training available from ITS Training Services
    Free seminars and on-line training tutorials in Access and Excel. 

  • As part of the Microsoft Campus Agreement for Office, our faculty and staff are entitled to online E-Learning courses at Microsoft.com.  These courses are meant to help you keep up-to-date with the latest major E-Learning - Applications software releases.
    To gain initial access to the Microsoft E-Learning courses, please follow the steps below:

    1. Go to: https://business.microsoftelearning.com/activate/; Input our multi-use access code: IWO176EFAE , (The code is case sensitive. Be sure to include the dashes and do not enter any spaces.) 
    2. You will then need to input a work email address that ends in either psu.edu or pct.edu.
    3. You will be prompted to sign-in using a valid Windows Live ID (this will be the username and password you will use to access the site each time you log in). If you already have a profile on microsoft.com, use that Windows Live ID.
    4. You will receive an email confirming your registration.
    5. From the confirmation email, click the link to complete the email confirmation and activate your courses.
    6. You will be prompted to sign-in using a valid Windows Live ID, once again.
    7. A confirmation page will appear indicating that the access code has been accepted (or you may receive an error message if the code was not accepted).
    8. Click the My Learning link to see list of available courses.
    9. Click on a course title to launch the offering. You will have 12 months from time of launch to finish that course.

    *To access your course at any time, please follow these steps:*

    1. Go to: https://business.microsoftelearning.com/
    2. Click the "Sign In" button in the upper right corner of the page
    3. Sign in to Windows Live using your Windows Live ID and password
    4. Click the My Learning link on the left side of the page under Customer Login
    5. Begin your E-Learning course
      If you have problems logging in to the site, please contact the Microsoft E-Learning support center at 1-877-383-2829 (toll free US/CDN), 1-585-214-2329 (toll) or e-mail microsoft_support@training.com.

    Suggested courses:

        • Course 5451: Getting Started with Microsoft Office Access 2007
        • Course 5452: Importing and Exporting Information in Microsoft Office Access 2007
        • Course 5453: Working with Forms in Microsoft Office Access 2007
        • Course 5454: Locating Specific Information in Microsoft Office Access 2007
        • Course 5455: Keeping Information Accurate and Secure in Microsoft Office Access 2007
        • Course 5456: Working with Reports in Microsoft Office Access 2007