Visualization and Design: Fundamentals
syllabus in pdf form
- CUNY Graduate Center | Summer 2019
- 5/29 – 6/24 | 6:00 to 8:00 | Mondays & Wednesdays in-class AND 5/30 in-class
- Graduate Center, Room 7395
- Michelle McSweeney (mmcsweeney@gc.cuny.edu)
- Office Hours By Appointment
- Course Site: https://dhum73000.commons.gc.cuny.edu
Description
As employers in every sector continue to search for candidates that can turn their data into actionable information, this course is designed to demystify data analysis by approaching it visually. Using Tableau Software, we will build a series of interactive visualizations that combine data and logic with storytelling and design. We will dive into cleaning and structuring unruly data sets, identifying which chart types work best for different types of data, and unpacking the tactics behind effective visual communication. With an eye towards critical evaluation of both data and method, projects and discussion will be geared towards humanities and social science research. Regardless of your academic concentration, you will walk away from this class with a portfolio of dynamic dashboards and a new interdisciplinary skill set ready to leverage in your academic and professional work.
Objectives
By the end of this class, you will be able to:
- Build interactive data visualization dashboards that answer a clear and purposeful research question
- Choose which chart type works best for different types of data
- Iterate with fluidity in Tableau Software leveraging visualization, aesthetic, and user interface best practices
- Structure thoughtful critiques and communicate technical questions and solutions
- Leverage collaborative tools, including Tableau Public, the CUNY Academic Commons, and repositories of public data sets
- Contribute to the broader conversation about digital practices in academic research
- Critically read a wide range of chart types with an eye for accuracy, audience, and effectiveness
- Identify potential weaknesses in the collection methods and structure of underlying data sets
- Locate the original source of a visualization and its data
Assignments
During this course, you will complete four assignments: 2 guided projects and a final portfolio accompanied by a white paper. You will likely turn in each project before you feel fully ready to do so. You will have the opportunity to submit revisions of the first two blog projects until you’re satisfied with the outcome.
Blog Post 1
One visualization built with New York City’s 311 data
Blog Post 2
One visualization with a quantified self data set you’ve created
Final Portfolio
A series of three visualizations answering an independent research question using a data set of your choice
White Paper
A 1,500-4,000 word final reflection on data, visualization, and iteration
In-Class Reflections
10% Final Grade | Participation in the in-class reflections and critiques
Tableau Tutorials
10% Final Grade | Completion of Tableau tutorials
Schedule
Because this is a Summer Session course, we will cover a lot of ground in just four weeks. Both classroom attendance and the online tutorials are essential for understanding the material and doing well in the course. The seminar will focus on a theoretical component underpinning data visualization. The tutorials will cover essential tools and techniques in Tableau. The Tableaus tutorials will be delivered in video format, and By the end of this course, you will have developed a deep understanding of the context around data visualization and how to effectively and ethically engage in visual communication.
Week 1 | Introduction to Tableau and Data Visualization
Class Time
Online
| 0 |
Setup & Install Tableau, Sign up for CUNY Academic Commons link |
| 1 |
Data Prep – Cleaning Google Sheets data link |
| 2 |
Simple Restaurant Visualization: Scatter Plots, Maps, Pie Charts, Bar Charts, Tool Tips link |
| 3 |
Dashboard Preparation link |
| 4 |
311 Data Setup: Downloading, Exploring, and Wrangling link |
Assignments
| May 29 |
6:00 PM |
Sign up for Tableau & Commons |
NA |
| May 30 |
6:00 PM |
Cleaning, Simple Viz, First Dashboard (0-3) |
Tableau Public & Email |
| May 31 |
6:00 PM |
Submit Proposal for Blog Post 1 (4) |
Email |
| June 3 |
5:00 PM |
Publish Blog Post 1 |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 2 | Data Integrity and Data Structures
Class Time
Online
| 5 |
Data Structures |
| 6 |
Data Joins |
| 7 |
Calculated Fields |
| 8 |
Dashboard & Storyboard Design Considerations |
Assignments
| June 5 |
5:00 PM |
Data Joins |
Tableau Public & Email |
| June 7 |
6:00 PM |
Calculated Fields |
Tableau Public & Email |
| June 7 |
6:00 PM |
Proposal for Blog Post 2 |
Email |
| June 10 |
5:00 PM |
Publish Blog Post 2 |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 3 | Advanced Chart Types
Class Time
Online
| 9 |
Thematic Maps |
| 10 |
Tree Maps |
| 11 |
Text Analysis |
| 12 |
Word Clouds |
Assignments
| June 12 |
5:00 PM |
Thematic Maps & Tree Maps |
Tableau Public & Email |
| June 14 |
6:00 PM |
Text Analysis & Word Clouds |
Tableau Public & Email |
| June 14 |
6:00 PM |
Proposal for Final Project |
Email |
| June 17 |
5:00 PM |
Final Project Draft |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 4 | Communicating with Data
Class Time
Online
| 13 |
Parts of a Whole (Waffle Chart), Timelines (Gantt Chart & Nightingale Rose), Comparisons (Slope & Bullet), Relationships (Flow & Sankey) (pick one) |
Assignments
| June 19 |
5:00 PM |
Advanced Visual |
Tableau Public & Email |
| June 24 |
5:00 PM |
Final Project Edits |
Tableau Public & Commons |
Week 5 | Final Review
| Mon, June 24 |
Final Review |
|
Assignments
| June 26 |
6:00 PM |
White Paper |
Commons |
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