#crosshairs13 - teaching data visualization through coffee prices
DESCRIPTION
Jake Batsell's presentation at the Higher Ed in the Crosshairs symposium at Southern Methodist University, February 22, 2013.TRANSCRIPT
Photo by Brian Legate (Flickr)
#crosshairs13 / 2.22.13Jake Batsell (@jbatsell)Asst. Prof, SMU Journalism
Teaching Data Visualization
Through Coffee Prices
Data is fueling today’s most comprehensive, interactive
journalism.
The New York Times, February 2012
But introducin
g students to data-driven
journalism can beINTIMIDATIN
G
Image by Brett Jordan(Flickr)
By easing students into data journalism with a dose of caffeinated competition...
STUDENTS CAN MASTER THE BASICS
OF DATA VISUALIZATIO
N IN 48 HOURS.
STEP ONE:Put students in small
groups.The mission• Use a combination of reporting skills and data tools to create an interactive map that visualizes local coffee prices.*
Photo by codepo8 (Flickr)
* 16 oz. drip
STEP ONE (cont’d):Groups create reporting strategy.
• Settle on data elements.• Create Google spreadsheet.• Agree on reporting methods: Shoe-leather, phone calls, Web research, crowdsourcing, etc.
Photo by codepo8 (Flickr)
STEP TWO:Collecting the data.• Finalized spreadsheets
due by start of next class.
• Standardizing is key.• If crowdsourcing, must
vet contributions and decide whether to use
them as is, correct them, or exclude.
STEP THREE:Visualizing the data.• Groups reconvene
in class to turn spreadsheets into interactive maps with Google Fusion.
• Class time is for polishing and troubleshooting only;no additional reporting.