Media and Communication

https://guides.nyu.edu/mims

Open a Google Chrome browser (if you do not have Chrome installed on your device, you can install it by visiting https://www.google.com/chrome/). Select a dataset from the list to work on a visualization. These datasets have been structured and cleaned so you can use them effectively in Google Sheets or ESRI Online.

Once you open a dataset, go to File > Make a copy... to add to your drive. Then you can add to the data, try sample visualizations in Google Sheets, or export as a .CSV and load into ESRI Online. If the group does not like any of these data sources, feel free to develop a new one.

In small groups, discuss the sample visualizations below (this is all the same data; it’s just visualized differently). In your group, ask any of the following questions:

• What information do these visualizations show? What information is missing or unclear?
• What questions do these maps or visualizations lead you to ask? 
• What would make these maps more interesting? Better colors? More information, effects, or animations?
• What other information might back these visualizations more effective?
• What are the qualities of a good data visualization?
• How do these maps show how the same core data can be visualized differently?

Visualization One

This graph is a histogram that shows the distribution by age of people in the study who were not born in the United States.

Visualization Two

This dashboard shows a range of data points from the data on the experiences of second generation young adults in the United States.