Module 4: Staging Models Slides

Slide Outline

1. Staging Models - Clean source data gently: rename, cast, standardize, and expose a stable base layer.
2. Learning Objectives - 3 outcomes for this module
3. Why This Module Matters - Staging models are the clean mirror of raw sources. They should make data easier to use without making heavy business de
4. The Mental Model - Lesson section from the full module
5. Tiny Example - Lesson section from the full module
6. Interactive Check - Lesson section from the full module
7. Inline Practice Lab - Lesson section from the full module
8. Self-Check Quiz - Lesson section from the full module
9. Real-World Use Cases - Reliable executive dashboards that do not disagree across teams, AI analytics agents that query governed metrics instead of guessing SQL
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid - 3 mistakes covered
11. Production Notes - 1 practical notes
12. Inline Exercises - 1 inline exercise
13. Key Takeaways - 3 points to remember

Learning Objectives

• Build staging models that stay close to the source
• Apply safe renaming and type casting
• Avoid burying business logic too early

Why This Module Matters

Staging models are the clean mirror of raw sources. They should make data easier to use without making heavy business decisions.

Production Notes

• Use one staging model per source table. It gives every raw table one official cleaned interface.

Common Mistakes

• Joining multiple sources in staging
• Adding metrics to staging models
• Leaving cryptic source column names unchanged

Key Takeaways

• Staging models are stable cleaned source interfaces
• Keep business logic out of staging unless it is source-specific cleanup
• Good staging makes every downstream model simpler

Inline Exercises

1. Fix stg_orders

   Turn a messy raw_orders table into a clean staging model.

   30-45 minutes - Beginner

   • Rename id to order_id
   • Cast created_at to a timestamp
   • Standardize status values to lowercase
   • Keep source-level fields only
   • Write the model grain in one sentence

   Inline lab: complete the exercise directly in the course page.