Harpur Edge Crash Courses

Harpur Edge Crash Courses

Crash Courses are offered on a variety of topics to give Harpur College students an edge on their professional development for future internship, research or job opportunities. A few of the offerings also include the opportunity to earn a Binghamton University Microcredential that verifies, validates, and attests to the specific skills and/or demonstrated competencies students earn.

Crash Course Topics Currently Offered Include:

  • Excel for Data Analytics

    Excel for Data Analytics:

    Did you know that the number one skill employers look for in hiring new interns is Excel? This crash course will prepare undergraduate and graduate students looking to gain Excel skills for use in data analytics such as: data manipulation, data visualization, how to use Macros and more through this microcredential. Upon completion participants who score 70% or better on the post-test will earn the Excel Skills for Data Analytics microcredential supporting their applications to internship opportunities in a variety of private and public sector organizations. No prior Excel experience is required.

    Students will engage in Excel skill-building lab exercises using a data set to develop the following skills: Basic Setup and Usage of Excel, Data Manipulation, Formatting, and Analysis, Data Visualization, Macros and Formula Types, VLOOKUP and Pivot Tables and Visual Basic Applications (VBA). They will also learn about how income data demonstrates disparities among gender and racial groups within the United States. Students will complete a pre-test and post-test to assess each of these skills in addition to the interactive lab exercises.

    • Who leads this crash course? This workshop is led by Muhammad Imam Hossain, PhD candidate in Economics department.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  
    • Testimonial: One participant said, "I’ve wanted formal training on Excel for some time and with this training I’m ready to apply to internships or jobs that require a depth of experience with Excel that I did not have before. I also like that I earned a digital badge/microcredential that I can share on LinkedIn and hireBing so employers can understand the depth of my Excel skills.”

  • Tableau for Data Analysis and Visualization

    Tableau for Data Analysis and Visualization:

    We live in a world filled with and defined by data. This workshop introduces the basic principles of analyzing and visualizing data using Tableau, a free, user-friendly data analytics software. The techniques taught in the course are useful as academic research tools, but also in the workplace. No prior experience working with data is required.

    • Who led this crash course? This workshop is led by Melissa Haller, Ph.D., Lecturer and Coordinator of Digital and Data Studies.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.
    • Testimonial: One participant said, "I learned how to analyze data in a basic way using Tableau software. Also, I know in the future how to learn more from this software because I learned how to use the help features and open source databases."

  • Programming with Python Foundational

    Programming with Python Foundational:

    Python is not just one of the most versatile programming languages out there -- it can be used in everything from web design to data analysis to artificial intelligence -- but also one of the easiest to learn. This workshop helped beginners familiarize themselves with the basic building blocks of Python.

    During this session, we covered; using basic control flow, data types, simple data structures, and functions. Developing code using the IDLE environment, writing simple graphical programs and working with files and network programming, including making API calls.

    • Who led this crash course? Chelsea Gibson, Director of Binghamton Codes! Program.
    • Outcomes: Prior Harpur Students reported 100% satisfaction with the training.
    • Testimonials:
      • One participant said, " The program was fantastic and taught basic elements of the Python language in an easy to digest way." 
      • Another shared, "I gained the fundamentals of Python and will use them in research settings that I will be going into."
      • Another Harpur student said, "I knew a little bit of java and wanted to learn a little bit of python. The ability to make algorithms and programs to serve my needs is useful and will definitely be leveraged to achieve more efficient problem solving. Also, it's fun to make dumb code."

  • Programming with Python Intermediate

    Programming with Python Intermediate:

    The instructor will present attendees with short explanations followed by concept-driven exercises to learn advanced python concepts such as classes, modules, as well as game application development concepts.

    • Who leads this Crash Course? Sarah Ford, Ph.D., Lecturer, Digital and Data Studies.

    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  

    • Testimonial: "Sarah has a way of teaching that really makes you feel at ease.  She kept challenging us while also engaging us no matter what we knew or didn't already know."

  • Coding in R

    Coding in R:

    R is one of the most popular programming languages for data science. This crash course introduces undergraduate and graduate students to data analytics and visualization techniques using R. We cover simple data structures, data types, and basic functions to interpret, graph, and present data. Participants who score 70% or better on the post-test will earn the microcredential that supports their applications to internship opportunities in a variety of private and public sector organizations. No prior knowledge of R or statistics is required.

    • Who leads this Crash Course? Melissa Haller, Lecturer & Coordinator, Digital and Data Studies minor.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  
    • Testimonial: "Coding in R was something I always wanted to get familiar with and after this beginner session, I feel ready to analyze and visualize data with this tool."
  • SQL for Data Analytics

    SQL for Data Analytics:

    Along with Python and R, SQL is one of the most widely-used and in demand languages for data science, and is also used widely in business intelligence and web development. In this program, you will learn how and why databases are used to efficiently store and access massive quantities of data, as well as how to write basic SQL to manipulate and summarize data. This course is an ideal first step into data analytics: no prior skill in programming or statistics is expected.  

    • Who leads this Crash Course? Gregory Hallenbeck, Lecturer & Coordinator of the Digital and Data Studies minor.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  
    • Testimonial: "Great session!  I had no prior experience in coding and now I feel like I can keep building on what I learned with a digital and data studies minor or internship experience."
  • Effective Public Speaking

    Effective Public Speaking:

    Students who participate in this high-energy skill-building crash course will be able to:

      • Identify what makes an effective speech.
      • Understand how power is constructed in both speech construction and the environment in which they speak.
      • Think strategically about how information is organized and delivered.
      • Apply theory of effective public speaking by conveying ideas in a credible manner and demonstrating confidence, clarity of voice and word.
    • Who leads this Crash Course? Jim Michalec, who has three MA degrees from Binghamton University: in Theatre (2013), in History (2007), and in Teaching (2005) leads this crash course.  He also has professional experience including: roles as Artistic Director of theatre company (“Face It! Theatre), undergraduate and high school instructor of Effective Public Speaking  for 10 years, and trained classroom instructor; training in communication, research, and performance.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  
    • Testimonials:
      • "This crash course helped me to refine my public speaking for upcoming interviews and presentations for internships and jobs."
      • "My confidence with public speaking has always been non-existent, but Jim is a great instructor whose feedback and encouragement has helped me to see myself in a new way. I walked out of this crash course with a new sense of how to convey my message in any situation."
  • Communication Plan and Search Engine Optimization

    Communication Plan and Search Engine Optimization Course:

    Have you thought about interning in media or marketing?  Do you conduct marketing tasks in your job but don't have any formal training? No experience is required to join this crash course in communications planning, brand building and search engine optimization.  Participants will learn and apply the essential concepts and methods behind successful digital communications, including how to:

    • Create and manage a social media presence for an organization or institution.
    • Utilize FB/IG ads, analytics and targeting to help a brand standout. 
    • Develop engaging multimedia content that speaks to a targeted audience.
    • Learn the basics of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and apply via web edits during the session.
    • Consider representation of diverse populations in media and how it impacts the communications plan and SEO
    • Work with media (TV, publication, radio, etc) to reach the broader public.
    • Participants will have the opportunity to analyze the communications efforts of a real-world business, and design a communications plan for that business.  The feedback is given to the local businesses for their implementation in marketing efforts.
    • Who leads this crash course? Ryan Yarosh is the Senior Director of Media & Public Relations for Binghamton University. He has more than 20 years of experience in media relations, issues management, social media and video production. He currently oversees social media and public relations activities for the University.
    • Outcomes: 100% of Students were Satisfied with what they learned in this session.
    • Testimonial: "I learned how nonprofits and companies build a brand and got to propose a communications plan for a local company. I might consider applying to social media internships with what I learned."

  • Digital Story Telling

    Digital Story Telling:

    Our world communicates via video. It is not sufficient to simply be skilled – successful professionals (in any field) not only need to be skilled in their craft, they also need to be skilled at conveying that skill to others – through online video and other social media tools.

    In this workshop, participants will take a brief but immersive dive into the TikTok ecosystem, and explore how the platform can be used to effectively communicate about participant's work, and to enhance career goals. TikTok is not just about viral dance videos. The platform hosts thriving communities of amateurs and experts from nearly every profession, collaborating.

    • Who leads this Crash Course? Theresa Kadish, mycology researcher and TikTok influencer.
    • Outcomes: 100% of students who participated reported satisfaction with what they learned in this Harpur Edge Crash Course.  
    • Testimonial: "I never knew how to really maximize tiktok to create an audience for my research or intellectual interests, I thought it was all about dancing and other stuff. This crash course made me think about how I can use the platform professionally and we created a bunch of content which was a lot of fun."

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