simple data visualizationsTech Day 2015

why bother? long history of using pictures to show

significance of numbers increasingly “visual” society visual data can be interpreted and

consumed quickly using open-source, social tools, data can

be shared easily

in the classroom … particularly useful for classes where

students do not have “data” backgrounds encourages exploration of

different data visuals (from bar charts to tree maps to “live” visualizations)

3 (really only 2)primary examples

many eyes (IBM Watson)datawrappertableau public

many eyes PROS:

easy to use easy to distribute social, web-based

visualization can “show” evidence

by including data’s URL

CONS: transitioning to IBM

Watson Analytics

datawrapper PROS:

easy to use fast results URL to share or embed “transpose data”

option

CONS: only five chart

types free to try, but paid

for real use (inexpensive)

tableau public PROS:

more sophisticated visualization

more ways to customize project

can embed or share example datasets

(resources) & Sarah Ryley

CONS: can be more time

consuming to use (depends on the data set)

though free, need to download software

others: infogr.am PROS:

can embed in blogs can download and

share privately

CON: restricted free

version; however educational pricing available

others: raw PROS:

web app/open source no registration lots of customization teaches a higher level

of understanding among data elements

CON: designed for

embedding into websites

others: timeline PROS:

open source linked to media

sources (YouTube, Flickr, etc.) for easy inclusion

site tutorials/step-by-step guides

CON: designed for

embedding into websites