Can I Learn Data Analytics On My Own?

Data analytics is a broad field in which various techniques and tools are used to gather, analyze, and visualize raw data so important insights and trends can be extracted and shared with relevant stakeholders. If you’re interested in learning data analytics, you may wonder if it’s possible to do so on your own. With the help of online resources like YouTube videos, tutorials, and on-demand content, most students can learn basic data analytics concepts and skills. The following sections will take a closer look at some benefits and drawbacks to studying this in-demand field on your own, as well as some useful resources to help you get started.

Advantages of Self-Teaching Data Analytics

If you’re a self-motivated learner interested in teaching yourself data analytics, there are many advantages to studying in this format. Unlike live coursework, which requires meeting at regularly scheduled intervals and, in the case of in-person study, commuting to and from a designated training facility, self-teaching resources are designed to empower the student to take control of their own studies. Learners complete coursework on their own schedule, from their own location, without having to battle traffic or waste time searching for parking. This makes self-teaching a good option for busy professionals who need to balance their data analytics training alongside busy work schedules or travel. Since self-taught material is generally pre-recorded, it’s often a much more affordable learning option. Some material, including YouTube videos and short introductory seminars, are even available for free online. This provides a low-stakes way to begin studying data analytics.

Another benefit of self-teaching resources is that learners can opt for coursework that’s specific to their educational needs. Since data analytics requires knowledge of several programming languages, software, and applications, students who choose to learn on their own can pick and choose the best content for them. Those who already know how to work with Microsoft Excel, for example, can select self-teaching material that doesn’t include this application. Instead, they can pick a short, self-paced course on how Python is used to automate tasks or how to work with Tableau to create interactive data visualizations. Additionally, this type of study can be tailored to the student’s level of expertise. Those who are just getting started in data analytics can select beginner-friendly videos or tutorials that provide an overview of the field and current best practices, while seasoned professionals can choose more advanced content that covers advanced techniques like creating macros in Excel or customizing Tableau dashboards. Additionally, learners who have a specific question or need a quick answer to a data analytics-related question can often find this information online through a simple Google search and put this information to use immediately.

Data Analytics Self-Teaching Tools

Many useful online resources are available for learners who aren’t willing or able to invest hundreds or thousands of dollars in live data analytics training but still want to learn this field. The following sections will explore several popular self-teaching resources, including on-demand courses, YouTube video content, and online tutorials and articles, so you can find the resources you need to begin your learning journey.

On-Demand Data Analytics Classes

One popular way some students opt to learn data analytics on their own is through on-demand data analytics classes. This type of training is pre-recorded by educational providers like Coursera and Udemy and placed online at an earlier time. Students have the flexibility of deciding their own learning pace, as well as where they’d like to be when they complete lessons. These convenient classes allow those enrolled to pause and rewind content as often as necessary or even rewatch entire lessons to ensure maximum retention. On-demand data analytics classes range in length from under an hour for some skill-specific content (such as Excel basics) or ten or more hours for more intensive courses that teach data analytics as a broad field. 

YouTube Video Content

Each day, an estimated 2.5 quintillion bytes of data are created. This number is expected to grow as more organizations embrace technological advances and expand their online presence. Because of how prevalent and widespread data is, it’s relatively easy to find online content pertaining to this topic on popular platforms like YouTube. Aspiring Data Analysts can select from short video clips that take only a few minutes to watch and teach a specific skill, such as how to format and print a multi-page Excel spreadsheet. Other video content is longer and more involved and can provide a basic overview of the field of data analytics or the data analytics process. Not only are YouTube videos free and easy to access, but learners can pick and choose the content they want and tailor their viewing around the data analytics skills they need. YouTube content can be a great starting point for learning fundamental data analytics concepts before you enroll in a more structured, live course.

Online Tutorials & Learning Resources

If, instead of diving into an entire data analytics course, you simply want to get a feel for the subject, many free online tutorials and other learning resources are posted by top educational providers like Noble Desktop. Noble’s Data Analytics Learn Hub is a rich resource that includes dozens of articles on essential data-related topics, including how to create maps in Tableau, work with SQL for business analytics, and use Excel’s Analyze Data tool. Noble and other trainers around the globe also post videos explaining key data analytics concepts and skills. In addition to offering learners a free example of the type of course content they would expect from the provider if they signed up for a full course, this content can provide a great starting point for those who are new to working with data. In Noble’s free introductory data science webinar, instruction is provided on how Python is used to handle data. Viewers get an overview of the field of data science and become familiar with the tools Data Scientists use in the real world to analyze datasets. Noble also has a free Intro to SQL seminar for those interested in learning the basics of how to use this language to communicate with relational databases. 

In addition to Noble, other top providers also offer classes in data analytics. Udemy currently has free tutorials and classes in data analytics available on topics like Intro to Data Analysis for Government, Learn Data Analysis Using Pandas and Python, and Introduction to Data Analysis: From Zero to Hero. Additionally, Coursera provides several free classes in the field of data science. It offers classes like Introduction to Embedded Machine Learning, Practical Time Series Analysis, and Foundations in Data Science: K Means Clustering in Data Science.

Drawbacks to Learning Data Analytics on Your Own

While there are several advantages to learning data analytics on your own, this educational approach also has its own drawbacks. The level of freedom students experience with in-demand content is a perk for many learners; however, it also can be a challenge for some individuals, in particular those who may not be able to find the motivation to keep up with their studies without formal deadlines. Some learners may struggle to keep up with their studies without formal deadlines or commit to regularly practicing the data analytics skills they’re learning, especially when work and family commitments interfere.

No instructor is present for self-taught data analytics content, such as YouTube Videos or on-demand classes. This means that students must find answers on their own when they don’t fully understand a concept or skill. This is why some learners may struggle with this type of coursework, especially those who are new to data analytics and require additional clarification or support. Some learners, therefore, may begin with on-demand coursework but move over to live instruction to fully comprehend concepts they’ll need for their current job or a new career path. In addition, another challenge of asynchronous study is deciding which data analytics class is best for you since there are so many options available. Content can quickly become dated, which means it’s on the student to research the training material they select to ensure it’s current and will be useful for them.

Alternatives to Learning Data Analytics on Your Own

While students can learn data analytics skills on their own, no form of training beats live instruction. Those who enroll in an in-person or live online data analytics class not only benefit from the insights of an instructor who has real-world experience analyzing data, but they also have the chance to learn in a supportive classroom environment alongside other learners. Studying data analytics on your own can take much longer than a live course and doesn’t provide access to a live instructor. For those interested in using their data analytics training for their current job or pursuing an entirely new career path, live coursework is a great way to acquire useful, up-to-date training in the current best data analytics practices and industry-standard tools. Those enrolled benefit from the mentoring, individual support, and ability to ask questions in real-time when they opt for this type of training.

Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool is a helpful resource that can help you find data analytics training options live online or close to home. This tool provides a way to compare the courses currently available at professional training centers and from other educators. Many of the classes listed offer more than hands-on instruction in the live environment; they also include professional development incentives, which provide graduates with the training needed to prepare for jobs in data-related careers. In addition to comprehensive certificate and bootcamp programs that provide broad training on a range of software and tools used to analyze data, shorter skills classes are also available at the introductory, intermediate, and advanced levels for those interested in filling a skill gap or learning to use software like Tableau or Excel for use with a current or future work project. Data analytics training options provide an immersive educational experience that allows students to connect in real-time for you. with an expert instructor and other students and provides career-focused training.

Various live online data analytics classes are available from Noble Desktop and other top educational providers. Noble’s Data Analytics Foundations provides introductory-level instruction in core data topics, such as statistical analysis and modeling, as well as how various industries use data for forecasting or decision-making. In addition, Noble offers a Data Analytics Certificate, a rigorous course that covers analytics skills like Excel, Tableau, SQL, and Python and that prepares participants to be Data Analysts or Business Analysts. Noble also has short skills classes that focus on a particular data analytics tool or program. Aspiring data professionals can get started learning to work with spreadsheets in Noble’s Excel Level 1 or acquire advanced-level training in data visualization by enrolling in Tableau Level 2. All Noble classes are available live online and in person in New York City. Whether you opt to complete your studies in person, close to home, or remotely through live online options, these classes provide all the perks of live training in a fast-paced, straightforward educational environment.

Learn Data Analytics with Noble Desktop

If you’re looking to learn data analytics or build on your existing skills, Noble Desktop provides both full-time and part-time training options for learners at all levels. In the following paragraphs, several popular course options for aspiring data professionals will be explored, as well as the requirements for each program. 

If you’re interested in taking a deep dive into data analytics, Noble’s Data Analytics Certificate is 

for you. This hands-on program provides students with training in a range of data analytics software and tools. During this intensive certificate, students become familiar with how to analyze and visualize data in Excel and use Python scientific libraries. Participants work with SQL to retrieve data from relational databases and explore how Tableau is used to visualize data findings. All participants receive eight 1-on-1 mentoring sessions as part of tuition, which can be used for professional development or to revisit complex course material. Both part-time and full-time study options are available.

Those who are interested in a shorter class that teaches Python data skills can opt instead for Noble’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp. Participants use Python to create programs, visualize data, and create machine-learning models with statistics. Instruction is provided on core Python concepts, such as how to write statements and expressions, understand different data types, create variables, and use lists. During the second part of this bootcamp, topics like dictionaries, control flow tools, loops, and conditional statements are taught. Part three of the coursework covers how to use NumPy and Pandas to clean data and work with Matplotlib, Pandas, and NumPy to transform data findings into advanced visualizations like bar charts and histograms. A supplementary 1-on-1 mentoring session is included.

Students interested in data visualization training can enroll in Noble’s Tableau Certification Program.This class is intended for those who want to pass the Tableau Desktop Specialist certification exam. As part of this training, students complete two shorter classes: Tableau Level I and Tableau Level II. Six hours of private tutoring is also included in Tableau. Those enrolled learn about Tableau’s interface and how this program is used to create a range of charts. Students also study how to create dashboards and map data. In the private training sessions, participants can revisit difficult course material or ask questions about content that will appear on the exam. Tuition includes the Tableau Desktop Specialist exam sitting fee, a free exam retake (if necessary), and test proctoring. Those who pass this test at the end of this program earn professional Tableau certification, which can be included on the student’s resume to demonstrate they’ve achieved a level of expertise with this tool. Those who are not interested in sitting for the exam can opt instead for an additional hour of private tutoring. 

All Noble classes are available live online and in person in New York City. Tuition includes a free course retake for a full year.