How do you teach data visualization to others?

1 Know your audience

The first step in teaching data visualization is to understand who you are teaching and what they need to learn. Different audiences may have different levels of data literacy, familiarity with visualization tools, and expectations for the outcome. For example, if you are teaching data visualization to a group of business analysts, you may want to focus on how to use charts and dashboards to support decision making and analysis. If you are teaching data visualization to a group of journalists, you may want to focus on how to use data to tell compelling stories and engage the public. Knowing your audience will help you tailor your content, examples, and feedback to their needs and interests.

2 Choose the right format

The next step in teaching data visualization is to choose the right format for your instruction. Depending on your goals, time, and resources, you may opt for different formats such as workshops, webinars, courses, or coaching. Each format has its own advantages and disadvantages, and you should consider the pros and cons of each one before deciding. For example, workshops are great for hands-on learning and interaction, but they may require more preparation and facilitation. Webinars are convenient and scalable, but they may lack engagement and feedback. Courses are structured and comprehensive, but they may be too long or too short for some learners. Coaching is personalized and flexible, but it may be costly and time-consuming.

3 Use effective methods

The third step in teaching data visualization is to use effective methods that can help your learners achieve their learning objectives. Demonstrating how to create and interpret data visualizations using examples and tools is a great way to start. Explain the steps, choices, and principles behind each visualization, and point out the advantages and disadvantages of different options. Providing your learners with the chance to practice creating their own data visualizations using real or simulated data is also important. Be sure to give them clear instructions, guidelines, and feedback so they can develop their skills and confidence. Finally, encouraging your learners to share their data visualizations with each other and with you, as well as giving and receiving constructive criticism, can be extremely beneficial. Ask them questions that can stimulate their thinking and reflection, such as why they chose a certain type of visualization, what message they want to convey, and what challenges they faced.

4 Incorporate storytelling

The fourth step in teaching data visualization is to incorporate storytelling into your instruction. Storytelling is an effective way to captivate learners, link data to context, and express meaning and emotion. Furthermore, stories are easier to recall and relate to than facts and figures, which can aid in the retention of knowledge. To teach data visualization with storytelling, you can use stories as examples, exercises, and feedback. Show your learners how data visualizations can be used to tell stories that inform, persuade, or entertain audiences from various domains and media. Ask them to create their own data visualizations that tell stories with a specific topic, audience, and purpose. Give them feedback on their visualizations using stories; illustrate your points and suggestions with stories; and use stories to motivate and inspire your learners.

5 Update your knowledge

The fifth step in teaching data visualization is to update your knowledge regularly. This field is dynamic and evolving, with new trends, tools, and techniques emerging daily. As an effective teacher, you must keep up with the latest developments and innovations, and incorporate them into your instruction. Doing so will allow you to remain relevant and credible to your learners, as they will respect and trust you more if they see that you are aware of the current state of the art and practice of data visualization. Additionally, updating your knowledge will help stimulate your own curiosity and creativity. You will be able to experiment with new methods and tools, challenge yourself and your learners with new problems and questions, as well as introduce them to useful resources and opportunities that can enhance their learning and career.

6 Evaluate your impact

The sixth and final step in teaching data visualization is to evaluate your impact. Doing so will help you measure the effectiveness and outcomes of your instruction, as well as identify the strengths and weaknesses of your approach. Additionally, evaluating your impact provides an opportunity to collect feedback and testimonials from your learners, which can be used to improve your instruction and showcase achievements. You can also demonstrate the value and return on investment (ROI) of your instruction by using different metrics such as learner satisfaction, retention, performance, or behavior change.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?