Dr. Shawn Konecni grew up in California. Migrating to Louisiana to attend his fatherСAPPs alma mater was an СAPPadjustmentСAPP СAPP one that permanently reset KonecniСAPPs compass.
СAPPMy family is in Lafayette; I like the people and the culture,СAPP Dr. Konecni says. СAPPEven though IСAPPm not originally from here, I do consider Lafayette my home so I look for opportunities to stay here, and right now teaching is it.СAPP
After earning a bachelor of science in microbiology from the СAPP, Dr. Konecni earned a Master of Business Administration in management information systems and a Master of Science in Computer Science before earning a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and biotechnology.
Throughout these varied programs, Dr. KonecniСAPPs focus remained on how to understand and use the growing amount of data available in every sector and industry.
СAPPWhen I first got into data analysis, it was to make an impact on the research side. You have all this data just sitting there that could possibly allow you to make a breakthrough and thatСAPPs exciting,СAPP he says. СAPPI was working on all kinds of projects from analyzing health and pharmaceutical data, doing data mining and visualization, to creating data visualization tools for businesses, government agencies, and nonprofits.СAPP
Dr. Konecni now imparts his data analysis expertise to UL Lafayette students across three programs in two colleges: the Master of Science in Informatics in the Ray P. Authement College of Sciences and both the Master of Business Administration online and the online Master of Science in Accounting in the B.I. Moody III College of Business Administration.
СAPPWeСAPPre in a situation now where because of advances in technology and the explosion of information, everything is now data-driven. If you want a competitive advantage in anything, you need to incorporate in your model as much information as you can get,СAPP he says.
СAPPEverywhere you go, data is going to propel business and help you achieve your goals.СAPP
Accountants and auditors are dealing with all sorts of data, from financial records and statements to audit data. They need to know how to spot trends and patterns in the data, improve the quality of their audits, and be able to communicate their findings to stakeholders.
СAPPThey have to have that data analytics mindset СAPP just like the rest of business,СAPP Dr. Konecni says. СAPPWeСAPPre not trying to make them data scientists, but they need to think like data scientists. They need to be able to use the tools and techniques of data scientists to support their job.СAPP
In order to achieve that, Dr. Konecni incorporates hands-on experiences using various data mining, analysis, and visualization software into his Accounting Information Technology course, ACCT 518. The course, he says, equips working professionals to choose the right tool when they encounter problems outside of the course.
СAPPI wanted to incorporate tools that will be used by big businesses and firms; things that they can take out of the course and bring to their jobs and say, СAPPI know how to use this; I know how to apply this to this problem,СAPPСAPP Dr. Konecni says.
Students will have the opportunity to explore Tableau, CaseWare IDEA, Microsoft Office, and various open-source tools like Weka.
Dr. Konecni says he enjoys trying new things and testing new tools, including applications for his online classroom. In addition to the data analysis software heСAPPll introduce to students, Dr. Konecni is exploring technology to foster interaction among students online.
СAPPI definitely make use of discussion boards to have students interact with one another,СAPP he says. СAPPThere are some audio/visual interaction when possible so people can discuss how they can apply the tools and techniques into their jobs.СAPP
Helping students understand new, complex concepts while exploring data analysis and visualization in a number of applications is, СAPPthe best job IСAPPve ever had,СAPP says Dr. Konecni.
СAPPIСAPPm lucky to be teaching in these different degree programs that constantly evolve; itСAPPs constantly pushing to the next level,СAPP he says. СAPPI love that part of it.СAPP