• Unit 5: Evaluating Data Visualizations

    Have you ever seen a presentation where every slide consisted of words, words, and more words? When you saw a chart or graph, the colors were so loud and bright it was like a firecracker on the 4th of July. Moreover, the message was unclear and certainly not intended for the audience on hand. When you looked around, everyone had their heads down, trying not to notice all the issues with the presentation. When you present data, start with a story, a message, or a point you are trying to make. The message should be crafted for the intended audience, with a clear narrative flow and visuals that connect and convey that message. In Units 1 through 4, you learned and applied data analysis, storytelling with data, visualization principles, and tools and techniques. This unit will help you tie everything together for the final phase presentation. In this unit, you will apply presentation design for data visualizations. You will also develop messaging for intended audiences and connect visualization to the narrative flow of the data's story.

    Completing this unit should take you approximately 7 hours.

    • Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

      • plan informational presentations;
      • identify visualizations that convey data findings;
      • apply data narratives to visualizations;
      • evaluate when visualizations are needed to explain a concept;
      • evaluate the proper visualization for a given data set; and
      • present data to a non-technical audience in an ethical manner.

    • 5.1: Develop the Data Story

      • Data as Sources Page

        Using data as a source can help with your research project's information needs. It can help you learn more background information, answer research questions, and give context. Read this article to learn how to obtain data for your research, evaluate its credibility, visualize it, and use it properly. Be sure to watch the video and complete the three short activities.

      • Data Visualization to Promote Public Awareness Page

        You can use data visualizations in multiple disciplines to report data outcomes. Read this article to learn how a cross-disciplinary course composed of computer science, marine science, and art majors collaborate on a digital project to educate the public on ecological issues.

      • Creating Good Visualizaitons Page

        Good visualizations don't happen by accident. The user/creator must take a systematic approach to creating credible and effective visualizations. Watch this video to systematically think about visualizations and how to reason between different visualization design choices.

    • 5.2: Develop Presentation Message

      • Storytelling and Visualization Book

        Storytelling has always been an effective way of conveying information and knowledge. In the field of visualization, storytelling is rapidly gaining momentum and evolving cutting-edge techniques that enhance understanding as storytellers are integrating more complex visualizations into their narratives. Read this article to explore the survey of storytelling literature in visualization and present an overview of the common and important elements in storytelling visualization.

    • 5.3: Map and Align Visual Communications

      • Data Visualization Design and Principles Page

        Well-crafted data visualizations present data in easily understood images. When done well, they also enable the viewer to quickly perceive insights they may have missed if presented in summary tables and spreadsheets. Watch this video to learn how visualizations can take complex information and present it clearly, expertly, and precisely to an audience.

    • 5.4: Validate the Narrative Flow

      • Narrative Charts Tell the Tale Page

        Narrative charts are another form of data visualization. They combine the best of data visualizations with storytelling and historical or fictional tales. Read this article and watch each video to learn how the author has portrayed these tales as compelling visualizations.

    • Study Guide: Unit 5

      We recommend reviewing this Study Guide before taking the Unit 5 Assessment.

    • Unit 5 Assessment

      • Unit 5 Assessment Quiz
        Receive a grade

        Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.

        • This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
        • You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
        • You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.