Day 4 & 5 - Train the Trainers

The final days of training are here. I have started to learn the best methods to teach this particular group of students (trainers). Everything that they have learned over the past week is starting to come together. Many times in class they would speak French amongst each other. I’m not familiar with the language but I learned to understand some key words by listening to them speak it so often. Especially, technical terms that were being taught during this training. My goal for these final days of training were to help bring together the full picture of what, how and when to use Microsoft Business Intelligence technologies. Some of them set personal goals of becoming Microsoft Certified Solution Experts in Business Intelligence. This would enable them to have expert knowledge of the technology and enable them to be certified trainers as well. Once they gain these new certifications this would enable TPCL to enter a new segment of business and provide growth.

This was a great experience and learning for me as well. I had to quickly learning and understanding some of the newer features since I was certified on an earlier version SQL Server. With my day to day work many of the data tools that I use our internally developed at Microsoft and not released for public or commercial use yet J. Some of the new feature that I learned were around implement a Tabular Data Model in SQL Server Analysis Services and using DAX to enhance a tabular model which is much different from a traditional multidimensional model.

Beyond the technical training and tools, I developed personal relationship we many of the TPCL staff members as well. Some of them even told me that I would fit in great as a Mauritian. I don’t think I would ever give up my United States citizenship but it be great to have second home in the beautiful country.

Day 2 & 3 - Train the Trainers

Continuing on from Day 1, which was an Introduction or Refresher to SQL Querying, we dug deeper into some of the SQL Server specific Business Intelligence technology stack. SSIS, SSRS and SSAS to be exact. 

This was the area of learning the team of trainers at TPLC (The Professional Learning Centre)  were most determined to learn. They gave me a lot of feedback from Day 1 on their learning style and I made adjustments in certain area to speed up and slow down the material. In some ways it felt like a two year old learning how to count because they were so passionate about what they were learning. This team asked so many intriguing questions that in some cases I had homework for myself at the end of the day to take back to my hotel and research.

At the beginning of Day 2, I started the training discussion with the image below. I told them they this may look foreign at this hour, but by the end of the training all the components will come life one session at a time. Many times throughout Days 1 & 2 I would reference back to this image as their learning started to come to together as understanding.

After many discussions and example of the uses of independent BI components of SQL Server: Integration Services, Analysis Services and Reporting Services I know there would be many questions to come in the upcoming days of training. The picture below shows one of my students after a day of information overload. You have to love the fact that they are willing to stay late to learn new concepts.

Day 1 - Train the Trainers

Day One of training is finally here. After weeks preparation and days of travel I'm finally here to delivery my services. 

Today, I'm work with a Microsoft Partner - TPLC (The Professional Learning Centre) . TPLC is a Centre of Excellence in Professional Training and IT Certification. TPLC founded in the year 2011, is operating under the aegis of Harel Mallac Technologies Ltd, the leading ICT organization in Mauritius.

The team of trainers that I will be working with at TPLC have years of experience in Infrastructure ( Windows Server, Exchange, Cisco) and Programming (Java, Visual Basic, PHP, JavaScript). I'm coming to help them get up to speed on SQL Server, this is Microsoft's relational database technology. To be more specific this team is very interested in learning about business intelligence. 

Today, I wanted to focus the first day training around SQL Server Querying. This would ensure that the team understood many of the querying concept of T-SQL. T-SQL stands for Transaction-Structured Query Language. The primary programming language used to insert, delete, update data in SQL Server. We spent some time understanding Select Statement, Data Types, Functions. Grouping and Aggregating, Modifying Data and Retrieving data.  

The team seemed to catch on quickly because of there experience in other areas of technology. This enabled us to move through the planned deliverable quickly and move into some of the planned presentation information for Day 2 which introduce us to SQL Server Business Intelligence stack of SSIS (Integration Services), SSAS (Analysis Services) and SSRS (Reporting Services). 

Without any sleep the previous night I thought this could be a issue, but I pushed through and took a great nap after Day 1 of training was complete.

The Road to Mauritius

First things first, this is by far the longest trip that I have ever taken. I have gone to different part of Europe, but I flew from the east coast so it was only 7-8 hour flight. The 14 hour flight to Dubai would have been a lot farther if the Emirate flight crew had taken my advice on how to get to Dubai. The first picture below were my thoughts on the best route to get to Dubai, but there was good lesson learned in geometry today. The second picture shows the actual route. I realized more than ever that the world is round as we traveled through the north pole. I sat between a retired couple, husband on my left and wife on my right. I asked if they wanted to sit next to each other, but their response was the seating arrangement was intentional. I thought it was odd, but I noted it in my mind because maybe this is one of those hidden nuggets for a lasting marriage. They both were extremely nice and I learned a lot from them about traveling.

 


Once I landed in Dubai, I spent the day refreshing and some potential shopping but I didn't buy anything (Lets see if this story changes on the way back home) . The Dubai International Airport is the most impressive airport that I have seen thus far in my life.  After the the 12 hour layover in Dubai it was off to Port Louis, Mauritius.

The seven hour flight from Dubai to Mauritius was great. No, I wasn't in first class but I received a oddly placed seat without a passenger in front of me. Being 6'3" the leg room was priceless. {I was seated in 81-A, see below} On the flight I sat next to a different couple that lived in Mauritius, but worked in France. ***The things you learn while traveling the world.*** Once the flight landed they asked me if I need a ride into the city. Mind you this is a 45 minute ride from the airport, what great hospitality I've seen thus far from the Mauritians. I had a driver waiting for me, but I really appreciated their offer.

Once I got through customs and collected my baggage I went towards the exit looking for a driver holding up a sign with my name. After looking through all the name twice, I realized there was a sign that said "Mr. Lamont." Well thats my middle name for those that don't know and I really don't use that name at all. But I figured it out, now headed to Le Suffren Hotel for some rest and preparation for tomorrows training I'm giving. Stay Tuned!

Preparing to go to Mauritius

Literally three weeks ago, I found out that I was selected to be a part of this experience. I'm head the Port Louis, Mauritius on Saturday May 9th, 2015. I already had plans to travel to Ohio and visit my family. I had tones on projects on my plate at work. I was even involved in planning a massive Leadership Summit, but I could not pass up the opportunity to give back and contribute to a new world. I'm honored to be a part of the  #MySkill4Africa experience

I was thrown into the Lion's Den with a checklist of about 30 tasks I need to complete in the 3 weeks before departure. This included:

• Preparing a training agenda for the Partner that I would with during my time in Mauritius.
• Late Night Skype calls to gather requirements from the organizations I will be working with.
• 6AM Security Briefing
• Managing Travel details and cancelling flights to Ohio (14 hours Flight to Dubai -> 10 hour Layover -> 7 hour Flight to Mauritius)
• Doctors appointments for Vaccines and Medicines
• Researching Country Information
• Gathering Visa Requirement details
• Calling Cell Phone Providers, Banks and Credit Card ---> etc.

Now in less than 48 hours, all the hard work over the last few weeks will come to light. Hopefully I have the energy to execute that Training Program I have prepared for one of Microsoft's partners in Port Louis. Wish me luck and continue to follow the journey!