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.

This is our first full week of class (September 9-13). Hopefully, you will get used to the Weekly Rhythm. This week will follow the “usual” pattern. The week “starts” the Friday before with the “week in Vis” (this posting). This weekly message goes out as a Canvas Announcement, but also appears on the course web at The Week in Vis: Week 02.

This is a message for students enrolled in class before the class starts. A link to this message will be sent to the class mailing list (usually I don’t do that, but this is not a normal week).

A link to this message will be sent by email to everyone who is on the CS765 Waiting List.

This is the first of a weekly posting called The Week in Vis that explains what is going on in class during the week. It also should give you context for why we are doing things, and how it all fits together (so it is part of the “content” for the course). Each week, it will be posted as a Canvas Announcement. It is also a page on the course web (see The Week in Vis: Week 01).

Usually, I make this posting on Friday (before the week), but this is not a normal week.

If you are just getting started, the most important things to know (in a suggested order to read them):

• If you haven’t read What Is This Class and Why? page you should. Make sure you want to be here. Check the Requirements as well.
• You might want to read the What is Visualization? tutorial (this will be a reading assignment in week 1) to get a sense of the course philosophy.
• Understand the Communications Policy policy to know what there is beyond this web page.
• Look at the Parts of Class which will give you an idea of how the class works. There are required class meetings (“lectures”), 3 regular weekly tasks (discussion, seek-and-find, survey), and design exercises.
• All these pieces shouldn’t be too hard to keep track of because there is a Weekly Rhythm.
• Look at the Schedule to get a sense of what will happen this semester (at least what is scheduled so far).
• You should understand the course Policies.
• You don’t need to purchase Books since we will provide the required readings online, but you must come to class and bring art supplies (see Class Meetings (attendance policy)).
• If you’re concerned about Grading and Late Policy, the grading plan might not make you feel better.
• And then look at The Week in Vis: Week 01 to see what’s happening the first week!

No, we really don’t start counting at 0, this is the week(s) before class.

Normally, there is a posting each week about what will happen in class during the week to help you get ready for it. This is a bit of a practice for that.