Please note that this is not an asynchronous on-line track. Everyone is expected to log in every day all day according to the Winter Working Connections schedule. This is a synchronous track.

This on-line Working Connections event is intended solely for the person who registers. Link sharing is only permitted with the prior approval of the National Convergence Technology Center.

This track is now CLOSED, but you can be added to the “wait list” and be notified if space opens up. When you register, select the Python “WAIT LIST ONLY” option as your primary choice and another track as your alternate choice. You will be placed in your alternate choice until space opens up in your primary choice.

Description

The Microsoft Power Platform enables users and organizations to analyze, act, and automate on the data to digitally transform their businesses. The Microsoft Power Platform currently is comprised of four products – Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power Virtual Agents. It also has two add-ons: AI Builder and Power Apps Portals.

• PowerBI simplifies how organizations derive insights from transactional and observational data. It helps organizations create a data culture where employees can make decisions based on facts, not opinions.
• Power Apps is the industry-leading low-code application development platform that underpins Dynamics 365 extensibility, Office 365 customization, and standalone custom line of business applications for customers around the world.
• Power Apps Portals are enabling low-code makers to roll out experiences to broad external audiences.
• AI Builder is a Microsoft Power Platform capability for teams with the business expertise to easily automate processes and predict outcomes to improve business performance.
• Power Automate makes it possible to grow your business productivity by automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks. Power Automate provides a better way to get things done across your organization through digital and robotic process automation.
• Power Virtual Agents enables anyone in your organization to create AI-powered bots that can chat with users about specific topics. They can answer routine questions, resolve common issues, or automate tasks that take up valuable customer or employee time.

This workshop is an introductory session that will explore Microsoft Power Platform tools to develop simple apps, chatbots, and dashboards to improve productivity by automating business processes. Microsoft Power Platform tools are becoming very popular and is one of the leading low or no code tools in the market today. In this workshop participants will understand the basics of common data connectors, build an app solution using Power Apps, build an automate solution using Power Automate, build a chatbot using Power Virtual Agents and build a simple data visualization dashboard using Power BI for data driven decision-making and insights. Hands-on labs using Power Platform tools will allow the participants to have a first-hand knowledge of how to utilize the software to gain business insights and trends and improve productivity using automated flow. Participants will learn how to automate some of the daily tasks that are applicable to educators.

Prerequisites

Excel knowledge is helpful. Microsoft account is required - please confirm with your college administrator regarding which apps are licensed by your college.

Textbook

None

Instructor

Rajiv Malkan, Ph.D. is a Professor in the Computer and Information Technology Department of Lone Star College - Montgomery where he teaches a variety of courses including Business Computer Applications, Programming Languages and Business/Management.

Dr. Malkan has over 30 years of leadership contributions in higher education within multiple settings. He has engaged in leadership roles including Founding Dean, Division Chair in transforming education. His involvement in driving key initiatives spans in education delivery, thought leadership, grant writing, global partnerships and engagements on emerging trends. He holds proven expertise in college accreditation & state compliance including Dual Credit/Pathways initiatives for academic & workforce programs.

His academic credentials include two Master’s degrees, a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership, and he has been the recipient of the prestigious Kellogg Fellowship in Leadership Development.

Dr. Malkan is active with various professional organizations and is continuing his drive in cyber security and incorporating data driven decision making in higher education organization by presenting at various conferences on data analytics, while executing on awarded grants and serving in community colleges and corporate education.

Course Objectives

Upon successful completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Describe the Power Platform components: Power Apps, Power BI, Power Virtual Agents, and Power Automate
• Describe the Power Platform components: Common Data Service, Connectors, and AI builder
• Identify the benefits and capabilities of Power Platform
• Understand the basic functionality and business value of Power Platform components
• Develop and build simple solutions with Microsoft Power Platform tools (Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Virtual Agents and Power BI) to increase productivity

Topics to be Covered:

• Introduction to Power Platform
• Introduction to Common Data Service
• How to build an app solution using Power Apps
• Create Canvas Apps and Model-Driven Apps
• Automating workflows with Power Automate
• Creating user-triggered flows
• Introduction to Power BI
• Installing and Setup – PowerBI Desktop, Mobile and Service account
• Understand PowerBI Tool Sets
• Creating Basic Visualization from Datasets
• Create Dashboards using PowerBI
• Analyze Trends from Dashboards

Tentative Modules:

Module 1: Course Introduction
Module 2: Software Installation
Module 3: Power Platform: Introduction to Power Platform
Module 4: CDS: Introduction to Common Data Service
Module 5: Power Apps: Introduction to Power Apps
Module 6: Power Apps: How to build app solution
Module 7: Power Automate: Introduction to Power Automate
Module 8: Power Automate: How to build an automated solution
Module 9: Power Virtual Agents: Creating Chatbots
Module 10: Power Virtual Agents: Triggers
Module 11: Data Cleansing (Excel for PowerBI)
Module 12: PowerBI – Basic Concepts and Getting Started
Module 13: PowerBI User Interface
Module 14: PowerBI: Creating Reports
Module 15: PowerBI: Creating Dashboards
Module 16: PowerBI: Applying Filters at several levels
Module 17: PowerBI: Create Charts
Module 18: PowerBI: Applying Maps
Module 19: PowerBI: Use Maps to Analyze Data

Please note that content is subject to change or modification based on the unique needs of the track participants in attendance.