MTH 126 - Data Visualization

Credits: 3
Instructional Contact Hours: 3

Workers and citizens have access to huge amounts of data. Being able to present clear and meaningful visualizations of this data is key to solving problems in the workplace.

This course uses one of the most impactful data visualization tools, Tableau, and is intended for newcomers to data visualization with no prior experience using Tableau. Students will learn the basics of data representation and data visualization, and then explore the various elements of graphical representation.

Students will explore Tableau's building blocks of worksheets, dashboards, and storyboards, and will create data visualizations for a variety of real-world big data sets.

Upon completing this course, students will be ready to tackle their own data projects with real world data sets and create Tableau dashboards that could be included in a professional portfolio that will be sure to impress colleagues and potential employers.

Prerequisite(s): MTH 208W or MTH 208AW or MTH 209W or MTH 209AW
Corequisite(s): None
Lecture Hours: 45 Lab Hours: 0
Meets MTA Requirement: None
Pass/NoCredit: Yes

Outcomes and Objectives

Explain data visualization and its importance.
A. Summarize the benefits of data visualization.
B. Explain why data visualization is important.
C. Identify the skills needed for data visualization.
D. Explain the data visualization best practices.

Demonstrate the features of the different Tableau screens.
A. Identify the various parts that make up the welcome screen.
B. Identify the various parts that make up the worksheet screen.
C. Identify the various parts that make up the dashboard screen.
D. Identify the various parts that make up the storyboard screen.

Create visualizations using a variety of Tableau’s features.
A. Identify potential questions for a given dataset.
B. Discuss guidelines for choosing a chart appropriate to the data.
C. Create a variety of charts.
D. Create worksheets, dashboards, and storyboards.
E. Demonstrate how to change colors, shapes, and sizes of charts.
F. Explain what the Tableau Tooltip does and when to use it.
G. Use the Tooltip in various charts.
H. Use the date features
J. Create new calculated fields
K. Use the mapping features

Compare and contrast effective and ineffective visualizations
A. Identify various types of visualizations in Tableau.
B. Discuss the role of ethics in data visualization.
C. Examine and improve an ineffective visualization.

Explain how visual perception and cognitive load play a role in effective visualizations.
A. Explain cognitive load and clutter.
B. Illustrate the principles of visual perception.
C. Use contrast in visualizations.
D. Use pre-attentive attributes in visualizations.
E. De-clutter a visualization.

Apply the design best practices for exploratory analysis
A. Apply Gestalt principles and pre-attentive attributes.
B. Identify and discuss accessibility and aesthetics.
C. Apply visualization best practices.
D. Differentiate exploratory and explanatory analysis.
E. Use Tableau for exploratory analysis.
F. Identify outliers.
G. Create a control chart.
H. Create and design visualizations that work best for the target audience.

Demonstrate how to create a Tableau storyboard.
A. Explain the uses of a storyboard and it building blocks.
B. Identify key metrics that will provide answers to an empirical question.
C. Use Tableau’s best practices for dashboard design.
D. Assemble a dashboard.
E. Apply hierarchies, actions, filters, and parameters within Tableau.