Learning From Visual Data
March 16, 2010
In the not so distant past, the visualization of data was reserved for the scientific community. It helped researchers grasp the structure and relationships in large sets of data. But the explosion of complex information in most knowledge domains has changed all that.
It seems that now, the appreciation for visual thinking is growing and you can find many data visualizations in the popular media. This makes me wonder if we’re doing as much as we can to visualize information when we design learning experiences.
Visualizing information makes it tangible so that people are more likely to comprehend it. If you’re looking for new ways to visually explain complex and abstract concepts, I’ve found that it helps to play around with data visualizations. Here are four compelling examples where you might find inspiration. The last three are highly interactive.
Explaining 1 Trillion Dollars
Although it might be difficult to understand 1 trillion dollars (an approximation of the US deficit), the BBC found a simple way to explain the number by starting with a door mat as one unit. This type of analogy could be transferred to the explanation of other complex numerical concepts in online learning. To see the animations, click on the But how big is that? button and then on each number category. Wait a minute for the whole thing to load. See 1 Trillion Explained.
How Different Groups Spend Their Day
The New York Times excels in interactive data visualizations. They have the staff and the vision to create interactive graphics that help you learn and draw your own conclusions. This particular example reveals a lot about the culture and society of the US. In terms of online learning, you get a lot here just by playing around. That alone is a powerful design lesson for all of us. See How Different Groups Spend Their Day.
Causalties of War
In this data set of war casualties from 2004 to 2009, users can drag a slider to see the information change by year (when you select the Since Troop Buildup Began link). Or you can click on individual links to show data related to specific events. Although programming large data sets might not be within our reach or domain, this is a good example of learning through interactivity. See Casualties of War.
Cost of Getting Sick
In this visualization, you can play with the the associated health care costs of various chronic conditions by selecting each colored slice of the chart and dragging the slider to a specific age. Of particular interest is the way the chart itself changes size depending on the costs associated with age. It’s the different combinations of data that bring about new ways of seeing things. In online learning, we need to visualize information to help people see things in new ways. See The Cost of Getting Sick.
Related Article:
Book Review: The Back of the Napkin (about visual thinking)
Do you get ideas from these examples? Can we use something similar (but less complex) in online learning programs? Let’s hear what you think.
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