Jake Batsell's presentation at the Higher Ed in the Crosshairs symposium at Southern Methodist University, February 22, 2013.

1. Teaching Data Visualization
Through Coffee Prices
Photo by Brian Legate (Flickr) #crosshairs13 / 2.22.13
Jake Batsell (@jbatsell)
Asst. Prof, SMU
Journalism

2. Data is fueling today’s most
comprehensive, interactive journalism.
The New York Times, February 2012

3. But
introducing
students to
data-driven
journalism
can be
Image by Brett Jordan(Flickr)
INTIMIDATING

4. By easing students into data
journalism with a dose of caffeinated
competition...
STUDENTS CAN
MASTER THE
BASICS OF
DATA
VISUALIZATION
IN 48 HOURS.

5. 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.*
* 16 oz. drip
Photo by codepo8 (Flickr)

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. STEP FOUR:
PRIZES!!
More details, links & resources:
http://j.mp/teachdataviz
@jbatsell
jbatsell@smu.edu