Data Visualization with Tableau Specialization

In this course, you will analyze and apply essential design principles to your Tableau visualizations. This course assumes you understand the tools within Tableau and have some knowledge of the fundamental concepts of data visualization. You will define and examine the similarities and differences of exploratory and explanatory analysis as well as begin to ask the right questions about what’s needed in a visualization. You will assess how data and design work together, including how to choose the appropriate visual representation for your data, and the difference between effective and ineffective visuals. You will apply effective best practice design principles to your data visualizations and be able to illustrate examples of strategic use of contrast to highlight important elements. You will evaluate pre-attentive attributes and why they are important in visualizations. You will exam the importance of using the "right" amount of color and in the right place and be able to apply design principles to de-clutter your data visualization.

100% online course

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

Suggested: 4 weeks of study, 5-7 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English

What you will learn

Apply essential design principles to your Tableau visualizations

Choose the appropriate visual representation for your data

Explain the similarities and differences of exploratory and explanatory analysis

Make strategic use of contrast to highlight important insights

100% online course

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

Suggested: 4 weeks of study, 5-7 hours/week

English

Subtitles: English

Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

1

Section

3 hours to complete

Getting Started in Effective and Ineffective Visuals

Welcome to this first module where we are going to start you off with background information about how the human brain perceives the world and then you will discover effective and ineffective visuals. By the end of this module, you will be able to recognize how the brain relates to visual design. You will know the difference between cognitive versus perceptual design. You will learn the various visualization options offered by Tableau and some of their advantages and disadvantages. You will discuss why how good ethical practices play in designing visualizations. You will also start to examine ineffective visualizations and learn how to improve them....

8 videos (Total 50 min), 1 reading, 2 quizzes

8 videos

Course Introduction3m

The Human Brain and Data Visualization5m

Cognitive vs Perceptual Design Distinction4m

Introduction of Effective and Ineffective Visuals1m

Types of Visualizations5m

Examples of the Types of Visualizations in Tableau12m

Practicing Good Ethics in Data Visualization9m

Ineffective Visuals and How to Improve Them7m

1 readings

Tableau Desktop vs. Tableau Public1m

1 practice exercises

Module 1 Quiz30m

2

Section

3 hours to complete

Visual Perception and Cognitive Load

Welcome to this second module. This module will explore specific data visualization concepts that apply the concepts you learned about how the human brain works from the last module. In this module, you will be able to define cognitive load and what clutter means from a visualization perspective. You will be able to visually illustrate the principles of visual perception and use contrast to enhance your visualizations. You will be able to define and use pre-attentive attributes like color to make effective visualizations....

7 videos (Total 47 min), 1 quiz

7 videos

Visual Perception and Cognitive Principles Introduction1m

Cognitive Load and Clutter8m

Principles of Visual Perception4m

Strategic Use of Contrast10m

Pre-Attentive Attributes of Visualizations4m

Color as a Pre-Attentive Attribute9m

De-Cluttering Exercise7m

1 practice exercises

Module 2 Quiz45m

3

Section

2 hours to complete

Design Best Practices and Exploratory Analysis

In this module, we revisit some of the concepts introduced from the previous module. You will be able to apply Gestalt Principles and leverage pre-attentive attributes in your visualizations. You will examine the role of accessibility and aesthetics play in your creations. Also, you will be able to define the ideas of exploratory and explanatory analysis and be able to normalize your data and identify outliers. Finally, you will be introduced to a challenging concept and construct a control chart to set you up to perform more advanced exploratory analysis....

10 videos (Total 70 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

10 videos

Design Best Practices Introduction0m

Gestalt Principle: Proximity6m

Leveraging Pre-Attentive Attributes10m

Accessible Visualizations11m

Aesthetics7m

Design and Exploratory Analysis Introduction1m

What is Exploratory and Explanatory Analysis?2m

Case Study: Anscombe's Quartet10m

Identifying Outliers8m

Constructing a Control Chart8m

2 readings

Missed Opportunities and Graphical Fails10m

The Challenger: An Information Disaster10m

1 practice exercises

Module 3 Quiz28m

4

Section

5 hours to complete

Design for Understanding

Making sense of large, multi-dimensional data sets can be a challenge for anyone. Your task as a designer is to make good decisions about encoding, arranging, and presenting data to reveal meaningful patterns and stories for your audiences. After completing this module, you will be able to design your visualizations for a target audience and with purpose. You will be able to identify the connection to between data, relationships and good visual design. You will implement additional design tools and tips into your visualizations. ...

9 videos (Total 54 min), 2 readings, 2 quizzes

9 videos

Design For Understanding Introduction5m

Know Your Audience(s)5m

Design For Purpose7m

Data, Relationships, and Design5m

Static Versus Interactive Visualizations8m

Multiple, Connected View4m

Language, Labeling, and Scales5m

Visual Lies and Cognitive Bias11m

Final Thoughts1m

2 readings

Blogs and Articles About Data Visualization0m

Selected Books About Data Visualization, Data Analysis, and Perception/Cognition30m

1 practice exercises

Module 4 Quiz28m

Instructors

Govind Acharya

Principal Analyst

Hunter Whitney

Sr. Consultant, Author, Instructor

About University of California, Davis

UC Davis, one of the nation’s top-ranked research universities, is a global leader in agriculture, veterinary medicine, sustainability, environmental and biological sciences, and technology. With four colleges and six professional schools, UC Davis and its students and alumni are known for their academic excellence, meaningful public service and profound international impact....

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I pay for this course?
If you pay for this course, you will have access to all of the features and content you need to earn a Course Certificate. If you complete the course successfully, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. Note that the Course Certificate does not represent official academic credit from the partner institution offering the course.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
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Data Visualization with Tableau Specialization