Teaching
Current Courses
OMIS 482: Predictive Business Analytics with Machine Learning
This course delves into the cutting-edge field of predictive business analytics, equipping students with essential skills for the data-driven business world. The curriculum covers three core areas: 1) Data Manipulation: Learn to clean, transform, and prepare data for analysis; 2) Data Visualization: Master techniques to create compelling visual representations; 3)Predictive Modeling: Explore machine learning techniques.
A significant focus of the course is on developing proficiency in powerful predictive analytics software, with emphasis on R. Students will hone their ability to code efficiently and independently, fostering self-reliance in tackling complex analytical challenges.The course goes beyond theory, incorporating real-world case studies to demonstrate practical applications in various business contexts.
OMIS 681: Advanced Predictive Data Analytic for Business
In today’s data-driven business landscape, the ability to make informed and strategic decisions based on predictive modeling is invaluable. This course is meticulously designed to empower you with these crucial skills, ensuring you become a pivotal asset in your organization’s decision-making processes. You will learn to wield R, a powerful statistical programming language, navigating through hands-on examples and real-world case studies to solidify your understanding and application of various modeling techniques.
Predictive modeling is not just about building models; it’s about deriving actionable insights and making strategic business decisions. This course places a strong emphasis on the interpretation of model results, teaching you to critically assess outputs, grasp their implications, and translate them into data-driven solutions that drive business success.
Teaching Philosophy
As an educator, my ultimate goal is to facilitate student learning by creating a hands-on, accessible, and engaging environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive. I believe that education is not merely about transferring knowledge, but about inspiring curiosity, fostering critical thinking, and empowering students to apply what they learn in meaningful ways.
At the core of my teaching philosophy is a deep commitment to supporting students. I care deeply about their growth, both academically and personally, and I strive to create a learning space where they feel valued, encouraged, and challenged. I make it a priority to be approachable and accessible, providing guidance and support tailored to individual needs. Whether through one-on-one interactions, collaborative projects, or constructive feedback, I am dedicated to ensuring that every student has the tools and confidence to succeed.
I recognize that diversity enriches the classroom experience and enhances learning for everyone. Students bring unique perspectives shaped by their backgrounds, experiences, and identities, and I am committed to fostering an inclusive environment where all voices are heard and respected. I actively seek to design curriculum and classroom practices that celebrate diversity and promote equity, creating a space where every student feels a sense of belonging.
To achieve this, I use teaching strategies that prioritize engagement and active learning. My lectures are hands-on and interactive, blending real-world examples, collaborative activities, and technology to make complex concepts accessible and relatable. I believe that when students are actively involved in their learning, they are more likely to retain knowledge and develop the skills necessary for lifelong success.
Ultimately, my teaching philosophy focus on facilitate student LEARNING and it is rooted in the belief that education has the power to transform lives. By fostering a supportive, engaging, and inclusive environment, I aim to inspire my students to not only achieve their academic goals but to become critical thinkers and compassionate leaders in their communities.
Students’ Feedback Wall
OMIS 482
The learning website and the assignments are impressive. I’m not sure there is anything more that can be done to tie the learnings to the assignments.
“The strength of this course was the instructor. He helped me start my school day with energy and positivity, helping me look forward to the class.”
“The delivery of the material and supportive resources are the strongest part of the course. The custom made content (website) of the material, the engaging lectures and the flexibility, accessibility, and combine knowledge of Dr. B and Venkata.”
“The strengths of this course include its consistency and organization. I had no trouble finding materials to review and learn, and the numerous examples and practice problems were incredibly helpful. The professor’s enthusiasm was greatly appreciated. Throughout my time at NIU, I’ve had many professors, but only a few have truly made an impact—not just on my academic experience but also on my growth as a student both inside and outside the classroom. Thank you, Dr. B!”
Dr B class has changed the way I study and view the material, because of this class I am able to view things in a real life work/business perspective and able to apply what I have learned. Even the course was difficult it was well worth learning and having a great professor like Dr B made it possible!
Biagio truly cares about his students and motivates everyone. I enjoyed the in class activities as it helped me stay engaged in class and get a better understanding of the material. This is one of the hardest classes I’ve taken, as you need to practice a lot to get better at coding. But it was also one of my favorite classes I’ve taken.
Biagio has structured this class in a way I’ve not seen before. I really did enjoy this class, although it is a lot of material, he does an excellent job teaching it and ensuring that we are well prepared and taught the material prior to the exams. I learned a lot from this class and hope others can in the future.
This class was my favorite class this semester. It made me enjoy coding again after having a really bad experience in the past. I really wanted to keep going and learn more because the professor made it very engaging and interesting. Overall, I wouldn’t change anything for the class and would keep everything the same for future classes to enjoy.
Dr. B was one of the best instructors I have had at NIU. He is clearly very passionate about what he does and did everything he could to help students learn the material. He was always available for questions and the content he taught was consistent with what students were tested on. When we were learning challenging concepts Dr. B made additional materials and tools that helped with mastering concepts. Any work that he had us do was directly related to real world applications which helped in being motivated to learn.
OMIS 681
Dr. B is the clear biggest strength of this class. Dr. B makes this class what it is. He was not only very informative and knowledgeable about R but his energy is electric and it makes everyone around him excited to learn. Also the learning website constructed to learn R outside of R was a staple in being able to learn as easily as I did.
“I really enjoyed this class as it is- it’s engaging, interactive, and keeps the learning process fun and dynamic. It’s been a great experience!”
“Most interactive and different approach in teaching the course. I liked it a lot. I could see a lot of effort been put into designing this course and really appreciate the effort. Seeing this effort have motivated me if not all i hope I have put as much effort in learning the course”
“Professor was amazing, his ideas for making students to get involved in class was pretty impressive. I can feel and see his passion in this field which makes me motivated towards this field. He is very friendly and kind person. Both professor and assistant are very helpful. There is nothing more to suggest or change :) We miss you so much :(”
Biagio is an excellent instructor; he uses feedback from previous students to continually augment his courses to the benefit of his students, and constantly goes out of his way to provide tools and his time to help students who need additional assistance learning the material. One of the best classes I’ve taken at NIU, hands down. He should be very proud of his work.
The coding experience was very good, the instant feedback was useful, the website was great, and the lectures were some of the best. Although there are still some bugs with the instant feedback, once that is addressed, it will only be better. The energy brought into the class was excellent, I understand that it can be discouraging not receiving the same amount of energy back from the class, but with teaching and any profession that deals with people you can’t force enthusiasm. So keep up the great work, one of the best classes I’ve taken.
I loved how Biagio advocated for us to practice the material outside of class by having weekly challenges. It really pushed my understanding further than just going over the material in class and completing a few homework assignments. Coding was new for me this semester and this has been one of the best experiences, I loved the layout and all of the different features that he included thought the course website, I’ve never seen anything like it before. I could see the time and effort he has put in to all of the material and that same effort motivated me to achieve the best grades possible. Throughout my final semester at NIU, this will be a course to remember, I’ll carry it with me forever because I feel THAT prepared to use R in my career. I’m so happy I got the chance to take this course! I have ran into a couple of great professors in the College of Business and I’m definitely adding Biagio to that list. I’ve already been recommending people to take the course that will still be at NIU the following semester and I’m almost certain that they’ll have the same experience as me.