Fundamentals of Data Visualization

University of Colorado Boulder via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/fundamentals-of-data-visualization

Introduction

Develop a toolkit for exploring and communicating complex data using visualization

Produce basic data visualizations using a chosen dataset

Compare methods for visualizing data and understand how these methods may guide users towards different conclusions

Evaluate how effectively a visualization conveys target data

Syllabus

Basics of Design

In this module, you will learn the foundations of visualization design. You will walk through the key components of a visualization, how we effectively represent data using channels like color, size, and position, and some ground rules for honest and effective visualization. You will also gain preliminary exposure to Altair, a Python library for rapidly generating interactive visualizations. Each week will also include either two readings or one reading and one notebook activity.

User Needs

In this module, you will learn how to choose the right visualization for a given scenario. You will learn how to reason about the different kinds of questions people ask with visualization and, how to align your design with that task. The module will cover basics of task analysis, methods for task elicitation, and foundational knowledge of visual perception for design. Each week will also include two external readings or one reading and one notebook activity.

Evaluation

In this module, you will learn how to assess the effectiveness of your visualization. You will learn both qualitative and quantitative approaches for evaluating visualizations as well as how to isolate key elements for assessment and iteration. The module will cover basics of insight-based evaluation, interview studies, and experimental design and analysis. Each week will also include two external readings or one reading and one notebook activity.