James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

MA2830 - Data Visualisation

Subject Description

We have entered the era of big data. The ability to take data - to be able to understand it, to process it, to extract value from it, to visualise it, to communicate it - that will be a hugely important skill in the next decades. Data visualisation plays an important role in data science. Data visualisation investigates paradigm and techniques to transform various data into images that effectively and accurately represent information about the data. This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of data visualisation that focus on how data visualisation can solve a wide range of practical data interpretation problems arising in many applications. It will include the following topics: basic concepts of data visualisation, data representation & abstraction, marks and channels, visualisation design and analysis of techniques, interaction visualisation design, and advanced topics for visualisation. In addition to basic concepts, design approaches and techniques of data visualisation.

Learning Outcomes

• demonstrate sound knowledge of the basic theory, principles and concepts that underpin data visualisation techniques and strategies
• apply related Visualisation principles and approaches to analyse, evaluate and improve visualisation
• demonstrate effective skills to create interactive visualisation
• apply storytelling principles for designing and effective communications
• employ software (Tableau) to analyse and visualise data, and design and implement visualisation projects

Subject Assessment

• Written > Test/Quiz 1 - (30%) - Individual
• Written > Case study analysis - (35%) - Individual
• Written > Problem task - (35%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Availabilities