Module 2: AI as Your Data Analyst
Welcome to Module 2! You've built the critical thinking skills. Now it's time to put AI to work -- analyzing your data, building visualizations, breaking down reports, and turning raw numbers into stories people actually read.
What Changed
In Module 1, you learned to evaluate data with a critical eye -- reading charts, understanding metrics, and spotting manipulation. That foundation means you can now trust yourself to evaluate what AI produces.
Module 2 puts AI in the analyst seat. You'll learn to feed it messy data and get clear answers, have it build the right charts, break down dense reports in minutes, and create workflows you'll reuse every week.
What You'll Learn
| Lesson | Skill | Real-World Application |
|---|---|---|
| 2.1 | Messy Data, Clear Answers | Getting insights from spreadsheets using plain English |
| 2.2 | Building Visualizations | Creating honest, effective charts from raw data |
| 2.3 | The Explain This Workflow | Breaking down dense reports section by section |
| 2.4 | Data to Narrative | Writing the summary your boss actually wants |
| 2.5 | Your Reusable Data Setup | Building a repeatable process for recurring reports |
Prerequisites
You should complete Module 1 first. The critical thinking skills you learned there (chart literacy, metric evaluation, BS detection) are essential for evaluating AI's output. Without them, AI will give you polished answers you can't verify.
How to Take This Module
- Open the Claude desktop app
- Make sure you've selected the course folder
- Say "start lesson 2.1" to begin
- Follow along as Claude teaches you interactively
Each lesson builds on the previous one. By the end, you'll have:
- Analyzed messy spreadsheets by asking plain-English questions
- Built visualizations matched to your data and audience
- Broken down a dense report into clear takeaways
- Written a data narrative ready to send to stakeholders
- Created a reusable analysis workflow for your recurring reports
Time Commitment
- Total time: 1.5-2 hours
- Per lesson: 15-25 minutes
- Flexible: Stop and resume anytime
Ready? Open Claude and say "start lesson 2.1"!