Please check for updates. If changes are made after 11/11, there will be a note here at the top.

In a Nutshell…

The goal of this project is to have students consider scalability issues in a very common data type (multi-line series data, or “Spaghetti Plot Data”). Students will create designs and tools that may be used to visualize a range of datasets (not just create a visualization of a particular dataset).

The assignment has four phases / milestones:

1. DC2-1: Tasks and Data (due Mon, Oct 19) - You will turn in lists of tasks and situations where this data applies.

2. DC2-2: Designs and Sketches (due Mon, Oct 26) - You will turn in design ideas that address some of the situations and tasks that you have identified.

3. DC2-3: Draft (due Mon, Nov 2) - You will describe what you are trying to build, and give us some indication that you have started building it.

4. DC2-4: Final Handin (due Mon, Nov 9) - You will turn in the system that you have built.

This page lists the data sets that you may use for Design Challenge 1 (DC1): One dataset / Four Stories.

You must pick one of these data sets for your assignment.

For Design Challenge 1, we are providing 4 different data sets. Variants of these data sets have been used successfully by students in the past. All of these data sets are sufficiently large and rich to contain many interesting stories. We may provide more choices, or better versions of the datasets listed. We will not remove things from this list (so if you pick something, it will continue to be OK).

For Design Challenge 1 (and possibly other things), you must at least try Tableau.

Tableau is a commercial data analysis and visualization tool. The company generously provides it for use in classes through the Tableau for Teaching Program.

Here, we will give you a brief guide on how to get started with it, and pointers to some resources. We expect students to figure out how to work with Tableau enough for class.

In this assignment, you’ll pick one data set to make visualizations from. Then, you will make 4 visualizations – each telling a different “story” about the data. The idea here is that you should explore the different kinds of visualizations you might make from this data, and the different questions/tasks that you might want to show someone.

We will provide you with the data set. We will give you a few choices. See the DC1 Data Sets page.

Some key things at a glance, see Getting Started (Start Here!) as well.

The class is organized by week - each week generally follows the The Weekly Rhythm. Required lectures on Wednesday and Friday, Online discussions, Seek and Finds, and Survey. Some component of the design challenges will usually be due in most week.

For future weeks, contents are subject to change. For the current week, the “Week in Vis” posting (linked to and summarized at the top right of the web pages) is the definitive reference.

If you’re looking for the syllabus, you are probably looking for pages on this web site. The “official University syllabus” is a document that is posted in the official places.

I have designed this class with a large number of small activities each week. I understand that it can be a lot to keep track of, but hopefully the fact that there is a constant rhythm of each week being the same will make it easier. (if it’s Monday, you know…).

The first and last weeks may break the pattern a bit…

This class is a continual stream of small things, rather than a few bursts of big things (like a project-oriented class would be). It’s good that you know to expect this from day one.

This posting explains the rationale for the class. It will help you understand my rationale for why I have designed the class the way that I have, and what you should expect from the semester.

This section provides some advice on how to best some of the varied tools we will use in class.

Spend some time to understand which tools we are using and how to best use each. Some of the tools will be easier if you take time to configure them at the beginning of the semester.

I won’t discuss all of the tools here - but will comment on ones where I have some hints on how to use them most effectively.

Overall Summary

1. The Course will use the Course Web, Canvas, and Piazza. Students are responsible for the content of the course web and Canvas.
2. Participation is a large part of this class - learning visualization is not a spectator sport.
3. All class meetings, including “lectures” and office hours will be held online.
4. There will (generally) be two synchronous class meetings per week. Attendance is required.
5. If you will miss a class, let us know.
6. Bring art supplies to class.
7. If something is due on a day, it is due on that day, Madison time.
8. Reading and viewing materials have two parts in each week; one part due Tuesday, one part due Friday.
9. Each week there is an online discussion with an initial posting due on Tuesday, and a second response due on Friday.
10. Each week there is a Seek and Find with a deadline on Friday.
11. Quizzes and Surveys are required.
12. Deadlines are generally strict, however, we let you drop low scores.
13. We’ll give you a grade at the end based on your work.