As the market-leading choice for modern business intelligence (BI), the Tableau platform is known for taking any kind of data from almost any system and turning it into actionable insights with speed and ease. It’s as simple as dragging and dropping.

In this workshop you will learn the basics of connecting data sources ranging from databases and spreadsheet files to creating simple interactive visualizations.

In this course students will learn visualization basics and how to:

• Create several of Tableau’s primary chart types.
• Aggregate tables/charts into usable dashboards.
• Utilize filters to customize views.   
• Apply navigational tools to switch between views.

To get the most out of this course students should have a working knowledge of spreadsheet applications such as Microsoft Excel.

Instructors will be Elizabeth Wakefield, Director of Institutional Research for ASU Newport, and Eric Atchison, Vice President for Strategic Research for the Arkansas State University System.

This program is approved for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

Be an Arkansas resident

Be a high school graduate or received high school equivalency

Not be a current recipient of the Arkansas Academic Challenge ScholarshipBe accepted for admission in a program of study at an approved institution of higher education that leads to an associate degree or a certificate program in the fields of Industry, Health Care, or Information Technology.

Award Amounts

The Workforce Challenge Award will be the cost of a certificate program or program of study not to exceed $800.

Apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship

Learn basic programming, maintenance and trouble-shooting PLC based industrial controls using PLC trainers with Allen Bradley/ Rockwell Automation Control-Logix hardware and Allen Bradley/Rockwell Automation RSLogix 5000 and RSLinx software. This will allow you to benefit from vendor training on specific equipment. The central processing unit is an L36 ERM. The basic operating principles of all PLCs, their inputs and outputs (discrete and analog), programming, maintenance, and networking will be covered. Hands on approach to Factory Talk View is also included.

Ken Walsh

Ken Walsh started his career as an Electrical Engineer developing automated sawmill equipment. Ken worked for Rockwell Automation for Nearly 20 years as a field support engineer.

• Experience in Automation Systems, software, System Design, Pneumatics, Electric Motor Drives, Panel Design, logic controllers, HMI project management, startup, troubleshooting and repair with disciplines applied across a multitude of industries.
• Broad knowledge of general automation, networks, motion control, drive systems and process control that spans across multiple control vendors.
• Experience with networks and communications includes: Controlnet, Devicenet, Ethernet, Modbus.

This program is approved for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

• Be an Arkansas resident
• Be a high school graduate or received high school equivalency
• Not be a current recipient of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
• Be accepted for admission in a program of study at an approved institution of higher education that leads to an associate degree or a certificate program in the fields of Industry, Health Care, or Information Technology.

Award Amounts

The Workforce Challenge Award will be the cost of a certificate program or 

This course will increase your knowledge of the Control-Logix 5000 controller capabilitieprogram of study not to exceed $800. 

Apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship

Course Description:

In this course, you will gain a deeper understanding of project development tasks and applications, learn how to create and organize a RSLogix 5000 project, creating new programs, routines, periodic event tasks and applications. You will also learn to configure Addon instructions, User Defined Data Tables, Producer Consumer Messaging and PID.

Ken Walsh started his career as an Electrical Engineer developing automated sawmill equipment. He worked for Rockwell Automation for just under 20 years as a field support engineer where he saw applications everywhere imaginable. Ken is also a proud Vietnam era veteran.

• Experience in Automation Systems, software, System Design, Pneumatics, Electric Motor Drives, Panel Design, logic controllers, HMI project management, startup, troubleshooting and repair with disciplines applied across a multitude of industries.
• Broad knowledge of general automation, networks, motion control, drive systems and process control that spans across multiple control vendors.
• Experience with networks and communications includes: Controlnet, Devicenet, Ethernet, Modbus.

The student will find that the Basic CFOT Course from BDI DataLynk offers a real  world approach to fiber network understanding. This fiber optic training course is a recommended prerequisite to the other BDI DataLynk Courses.

This specialist program focuses on the testing & maintenance of singlemode networks. With emphasis on the OLTS and OTDR, this course presents extreme, real world challenges to the  attending student. Requires the CFOT Course as a prerequisite.

This specialist program focuses on mechanical and fusion splicing of fiber optics networks. The student will be expected to build their own fiber network using a variety of mechanical and fusion splicing techniques. Requires the CFOT Course as a prerequisite.

This program is approved for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship.

Basic Eligibility Criteria

An applicant must:

• Be an Arkansas resident
• Be a high school graduate or received high school equivalency
• Not be a current recipient of the Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship
• Be accepted for admission in a program of study at an approved institution of higher education that leads to an associate degree or a certificate program in the fields of Industry, Health Care, or Information Technology.

Award Amounts

The Workforce Challenge Award will be the cost of a certificate program or program of study not to exceed $800. 

Apply for the Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship

Students will learn Allen Bradley VFD Powerflex HMI, including lockout procedures for safety. This class includes the following units of instruction; introduction to various types of AC motors, AC motor basics of voltage, speed, power factor, torque, and motor starting methods, VFD Basics, VFD Working Principle and Operation, VFD Control, VFD Installation (hard wiring VFD-cable termination), VFD Start-up, Soft Starter working principle, Drive software start, and Troubleshooting VFD Drives.Also includes introduction to Allen-Bradley PanelView Plus operator interface configuration and complementary ControlLogix programming, using FTView, Studio5000 and RSLinx. Variable frequency drive basics taught are the same for all VFDs regardless of brand. Includes the Laboratory Manual, Final Exam, and Certificate of Completion.

About the Instructor

Ken Walsh started his career as an Electrical Engineer developing automated sawmill equipment. He worked for Rockwell Automation for just under 20 years as a field support engineer where he saw applications everywhere imaginable. Ken is also a proud Vietnam era veteran.

• Experience in Automation Systems, software, System Design, Pneumatics, Electric Motor Drives, Panel Design, logic controllers, HMI project management, startup, troubleshooting and repair with disciplines applied across a multitude of industries.
• Broad knowledge of general automation, networks, motion control, drive systems and process control that spans across multiple control vendors.
• Experience with networks and communications includes: Controlnet, Devicenet, Ethernet, Modbus.