Datavisualization - Graphics for Impact

Overview

The Datavisualization - Graphics for Impact course at the University of Glasgow teaches the practical computer skills to generate datavisualisations, to use them for analyses, to report them and to communicate them to a wide audience.

At the end of the course participants will be able to:

• define and discuss different types of data visualisations and their uses, in the context of providing evidence for practical questions.
• describe and discuss standards which make data visualisations impactful, trustworthy and accessible
• use data visualisations to answer questions and tell “data stories” in the context of short reports.
• plan, create, and distribute visualisations that allow easy communication, aid decision making, and empower users to learn from data, using the opensource software R and free Amazon Web Services.

Participants know and be able to apply what makes:

• Impactful graphs that allow easy communication, aid decision making, and empower users to learn from data.
• Trustworthy graphs that are transparent and clear about the data used and evidence provided.
• Accessible graphs that comply with legal requirements and aesthetical guidance.

Career Prospects

The course is envisioned to be useful both for those seeking to use the skills in their current job and those seeking jobs that require these skills. The skills will be equally useful for those wanting to produce high-quality visualizations as those intending to commission them. Specifically, the course will benefit professionals in small/medium-sized business, third- and public sector employees.

The skills learnt will strength applications to jobs requiring administrative-, analysis-, as well as communication experience in any sector.