ISTA 320 Applied Data Visualization - SPRING 2023
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ISTA 320 Applied Data Visualization - SPRING 2023
Office Hours/Free help session/Work time
Students are welcome to join our zoom link (to be shared on D2L) for work time and for help with assignments for this course or other projects related to R and/or data visualization.
● Tuesday 11:00am - Noon
● Wednesday 5pm - 6pm
Additionally, there is a Slack channel for the course, where students can get help from each other and from the instructor on a rolling, asynchronous basis. You should have received an email invitation to the Slack channel. If not, please contact your course instructor for the invitation.
Slack invitation link: https://join.slack.com/t/slack-xaz8810/shared_invite/zt-1md6e6vea-t1OCSpZOhWGEGyoGUcbThw
Course Description
This course will introduce students to the fundamental concepts and tools used to convey the information contained within large, complex data sets through a variety of visualization techniques. Students will learn the fundamentals of data exploration data via visualizations, how to manipulate and reshape data to make it suitable for visualization, and how to prepare everything from simple single-variable visualizations to large multi-tiered and interactive visualizations. Visualization theory will be presented alongside the technical aspect of the course to develop a holistic understanding of the topic.
Course Objectives
In this course students will:
1. Be introduced to the field of data visualization, including why we need visualization, what makes a good one, and the various types of visualizations used.
2. Understand the steps needed to ready a dataset for visualization and why that needs to be done.
3. Learn how to create everything from simple static visualizations such as histograms and bar graphs to interactive visualizations that help guide a user through complex large datasets.
4. Expand their knowledge of R and its application in data visualization.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of the course students will be able to:
1. Articulate the pros and cons of different visualization types under different scenarios.
2. Describe the general features and visual properties that make a quality, easy to understand visualiza- tion.
3. Be able to manipulate and modify raw datasets in R such that they are capable of being used to create the desired visualization.
4. Be able to create the proper type of visualization given the properties of a dataset and the desired message the user wants to convey.
5. Be able to implement the above using the programming language R and associated technologies.
Required Texts and Materials
All required reading materials will be made available on D2L.
Course Schedule
Here is the tentative course schedule with students learning outcomes by week.
Week 1 – MODULE 1: INTRODUCTION TO VISUALIZATION
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Explain why data visualization is important
2. List data visualization needs by stakeholder
3. Describe different types of data visualization
4. Organize a data analysis, with appropriate file naming and distinguishing raw from processed data
5. Import data into your R environment
6. Inspect data in R
Week 1 - MODULE 2: WHAT’S IN A PLOT?
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Map different parts of a plot into your visualization
2. Match different data types to different aesthetics in your visualization
3. Plot different data types using ggplot()
Week 1 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge One - Due by the start of Week 2
● Quiz One - Due by the start of Week 2
Week 2 - MODULE 3: DATA WRANGLING
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (2 WEEKS TOTAL)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Identify features of tidy data
2. Identify different types of variables
3. Transform messy data into tidy data functions in R such as pivot_longer(), mutate(), and left_join()
4. Summarize data using functions in R such filter(), group_by(), and summarize()
Week 2 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Two - Due by the start of Week 3
● Quiz Two - Due by the start of Week 3
Week 3 - MODULE 4: SCATTER PLOTS
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Generalize when to use scatter plots, identifying the pros and cons of this type of plot
2. Decide what variables to map to different aesthetics of scatter plots
3. Match scatter plots with specific data questions
4. Map x, y, and color in a scatter plot using ggplot2
Week 3 - MODULE 5: BAR AND COLUMN PLOTS
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Generalize when to use bar and column plots, identifying the pros and cons of these plots
2. Use categorical variables for groups to display within-group effects
3. Match bar and column plots with specific data questions
4. Decide what variables to map to different aesthetics of bar and column plots
5. Map x, y, and fill in bar and column plots using ggplot2
Week 3 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Three - Due by the start of Week 4
● Quiz Three - Due by the start of Week 4
● Data Viz Critique One - Due by the start of Week 4
Week 4 - MODULE 6: LINE PLOTS AND MULTIPLE VIEWS
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Generalize when to use line plots, identifying the pros and cons of this type of plot
2. Use categorical variables for groups to display within-group effects
3. Arrange visualizations by composing multiple views (i.e., faceting)
4. Match faceted line plots with specific data questions
5. Decide what variables to map to different aesthetics of line plots
6. Map x, y, color, and facet in line plots using ggplot2
7. Ensure consistent scales in multiple views
Week 4 - MODULE 7: TIMESERIES
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Manipulate and transform Date variables, for larger and finer grained analysis
2. Describe when a line plot should be used with Date variables
3. Use categorical variables for groups to display within-group effects
4. Decide what variables to map to different aesthetics of line plots for timeseries
5. Map x, y, color, and facet in timeseries plots using ggplot2
Week 4 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Four - Due by the start of Week 5
● Midterm - Released Wednesday morning 2/08, 24-hour period to complete
Week 5 - MODULE 9: SHAPES, COLORS, ORIENTATION, AND SCALING
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of different visualization elements based on human perception principles
2. Find and correct visualization errors or pitfalls
3. Produce effective visualizations by manipulating color, orientation, shape and scaling
Week 5 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Five - Due by the start of Week 6
● Quiz Four - Due by the start of Week 6
● Data Viz Critique Two - Due by the start of Week 6
Week 6 - MODULE 10: MAP PLOTS
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Generalize when to use map plots, identifying the strengths and weaknesses of this type of plot
2. Match map plots with specific data questions
3. Decide what variables to map to different aesthetics of map plots
4. Create different types of map plots using ggplot2
Week 6 - MODULE 11: STATISTICS AND VISUALIZATION
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (1 WEEK)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Decide what statistical test is better for a data set and data question
2. Display inferential statistics information on different types of visualization
3. Anticipate visualization needs by audience and purpose
4. Make use of storytelling and persuasion to design effective visualizations
Week 6 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Six - Due by the start of Week 7
● Quiz Four - Due by the start of Week 7
Week 7 - MODULE 12: INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATIONS
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES (2 WEEKS)
At the end of this module, you will be able to:
1. Design interactive visualizations using the shiny R package
2. Identify elements that go in the user interface and that go in the server script
3. Describe issues of visualization accessibility and make use of interactivity to mitigate these issues
4. Choose different user interaction elements to filter and highlight the data
Week 7 Assignments and Deadlines
● Data Viz Challenge Seven - Due by the end of Week 7
● Final - Released Thursday morning 3/02, 24-hour period to complete
Assessment and Grade Distribution
Assessment Category |
Unit Percentage |
Percentage of Final Grade |
Data Viz Challenge |
7 challenges x 5 |
35 |
Quizzes |
4 quizzes x 6 |
24.0 |
Visualization Critique |
2 critiques x 10.5 |
21 |
Exam |
Midterm |
10 |
Exam |
Final |
10 |
Exam Format
This course has two exams, a midterm and a final. You will be able to take these exams anytime within
the 24 hour period stated on the syllabus. The exam is an extended data challenge. University policy on
examinations can be found here: https://www.registrar.arizona.edu/courses/final-examination-regulations- -andinformation
Student Accommodations
It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520-621-3268) to establish reasonable
accommodations. For additional information on Disability Resources and reasonable accommodations, please visit http://drc.arizona.edu/.
Attendance, Due Dates, and Missing Work
1. Missed class assignments or exams cannot be made up without a well-documented, verifiable, excuse (for example, a physician’s medical excuse). Indeed, due dates are firm, and late work will be accepted only with a verifiable and valid excuse.
2. The UA policy regarding absences for any sincerely held religious belief, observance or practice will be accommodated where reasonable, http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/religious- -accommodationpolicy.
3. Absences pre-approved by the UA Dean of Students (or Dean designee) will be honored. https://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/absences
4. Arriving late and leaving early is extremely disruptive to others in the class. Please avoid this kind of disruption.
5. The UA’s policy concerning Class Attendance and Administrative Drops is available at: https:// catalog.arizona.edu/policy/class-attendance-participation-and-administrative-drop
Course Conduct and Campus Policies (be familiar with all campus policies)
1. Students are encouraged to share intellectual views and discuss freely the principles and applications of course materials. However, graded work/exercises must be the product of independent effort unless otherwise instructed. Students are expected to adhere to the UA Code of Academic Integrity as described in the UA General Catalog. See: http://deanofstudents.arizona.edu/academic-integrity/ students/academic-integrity.
2. It is the University’s goal that learning experiences be as accessible as possible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. You are also welcome to contact Disability Resources (520- 621-3268) to establish reasonable accommodations. For additional information on Disability Resources and reasonable accommodations, please visit http://drc.arizona.edu/.
3. The UA Threatening Behavior by Students Policy prohibits threats of physical harm to any member of the University community, including to oneself. See http://policy.arizona.edu/education-and-student- affairs/threatening-behavior-students.
4. All student records will be managed and held confidentially. http://www.registrar.arizona.edu/ personal-information/family-educational-rights-and-privacy-act-1974-ferpa?topic=ferpa
5. The University is committed to creating and maintaining an environment free of discrimination; see http://policy.arizona.edu/human-resources/nondiscrimination-and-anti-harassment-policy.
6. Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grade and absence policy, may be subject to change without advance notice as deemed appropriate by the instructor.
2023-01-28