In a remarkable initiative, Instructor Sarah Mitchell from Cornell University’s Information Science Department was tasked with developing a Master’s level course on “Business Intelligence (BI) Systems” within a tight three-week timeframe. The objective was to equip students with a comprehensive understanding of BI concepts such as dimensional data modeling, ETL design, and data visualization techniques. Faced with this challenge, Sarah collaborated with Cloud Engineer Tom Anderson to devise a plan that would facilitate a hands-on learning experience for this pilot course.
Preparation Phase
“We lacked access to a dedicated computer lab, which posed a significant challenge as we considered having students install software on their own devices,” Tom explained. “Ensuring that the software was compatible across various platforms—be it Mac, PC, or Linux—would have created a support nightmare.” To mitigate potential complications and ensure students were ready to engage from day one, Sarah and Tom opted to utilize Amazon WorkSpaces for the course. Each student was provided with an individual Amazon WorkSpace, complete with Oracle SQL Developer, the WhereScape RED ETL tool, and Tableau Desktop pre-installed.
Deployment Process
Once the necessary software was configured within the WorkSpaces image, deploying or rebuilding new WorkSpaces for students took only about 20 minutes, even for larger classes of over 40 students. Before the semester commenced, each student received an email containing instructions for logging in and downloading the application. During the first lecture, Sarah asked the students to raise their hands if they could successfully connect to their WorkSpace. “This was the moment I dreaded, but to my relief, every student raised their hand!” Tom remarked.
Post-Deployment Experience
With the support of AWS, Sarah was able to concentrate on crafting a course that offered hands-on experiences, whether in the classroom, dormitories, or dining halls—regardless of the device in use. “Students have the freedom to collaborate on their projects anywhere, whether on Macs, PCs, or tablets. This flexibility is truly the icing on the cake,” stated Sarah.
Live demonstrations during class allowed students to follow along in real-time, eliminating the need for note-taking and enhancing the overall educational experience. This approach also saved Sarah countless hours that would have otherwise been spent in office hours troubleshooting computer setups instead of focusing on course content.
“Students gain authentic hands-on experience using industry-standard tools with Amazon WorkSpaces. They aren’t just passive listeners; they engage actively during class, breaking down traditional barriers,” Sarah emphasized.
In addition to individual assignments centered around essential skills, students collaborated in teams of 4-5 on real-world BI projects that addressed challenges faced by Cornell, utilizing relevant datasets from areas like campus transportation and dining services.
“We can completely reimagine how we teach with Amazon WorkSpaces. We can offer students more engaging content and interactivity without increasing complexity for instructors. The possibilities are endless,” Sarah concluded. For further insights on leveraging technology in education, check out another blog post here.
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