Syllabus

CS 573. DATA VISUALIZATION

Computer Science

September 7 - November 9, 2017
* last assignment due November 16th

Instructor:

Curran Kelleher

ckelleher@wpi.edu

Required Material:

• Visualization Analysis & Design by Tamara Munzner (2014) (ISBN 9781466508910)
• D3 in Motion (video course) by Curran Kelleher (2017) (40% discount code "ytkelleher")

Reference Material (optional, but awesome)::

• D3.js in Action by Elijah Meeks 2nd Edition (2017)
• Interactive Data Visualization for the Web by Scott Murray 2nd Edition (2017)
• Semiology of Graphics by Jacques Bertin (2010)
• The Grammar of Graphics by Leland Wilkinson
• ggplot2 Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis by Hadley Wickham

Course Description:

This course is all about data visualization, the art and science of turning data into readable graphics. We’ll explore how to design and create data visualizations based on data available and tasks to be achieved. This process includes data modeling, data processing (such as aggregation and filtering), mapping data attributes to graphical attributes, and strategic visual encoding based on known properties of visual perception as well as the task(s) at hand. Students will also learn to evaluate the effectiveness of visualization designs, and think critically about each design decision, such as choice of color and choice of visual encoding. Students will create their own data visualizations, and learn to use Open Source data visualization tools, especially D3.js. Students will also read papers from the current and past visualization literature and create video presentations of their findings.

Prerequisite Courses:

A graduate or undergraduate course in computer graphics.

Learning Outcomes:

By the completion of this course, learners will be able to:

• Design and create data visualizations.
• Conduct exploratory data analysis using visualization.
• Craft visual presentations of data for effective communication.
• Use knowledge of perception and cognition to evaluate visualization design alternatives.
• Design and evaluate color palettes for visualization based on principles of perception.
• Apply data transformations such as aggregation and filtering for visualization.
• Identify opportunities for application of data visualization in various domains.
• Critique existing visualizations based on data visualization theory and principles.
• Use JavaScript with D3.js to develop interactive visualizations for the Web.

Communication:

• Primary communication will be via our Slack team https://wpi-dataviz-course.slack.com

• Please join this team now by clicking this team invitation link. Introduce yourself! 

• You’ll be expected to check this Slack for updates at least once every 24 hours.
• Do take care to avoid posting links or images that may be considered offensive.
• I (Curran) will be present in Slack most weekdays roughly 8AM to 11AM.
  • If another student may be able to answer your question, please post it in Slack.
  • Direct message me in the Slack for quick communication.
  • Vent any frustrations or confusion with the course in the #feedback channel.
• If you have a question that only I can answer, and is not suitable for messaging in Slack, email me at ckelleher@wpi.edu. I will respond within 24 hours, weekdays.
• We will have 🎉office hours🎉 as a live video session every Monday 10-11AM EST
• Click this link to add it to your Google Calendar (if you want to)
• Click this link to open the office hours Zoom meeting (when the time comes)
• Join the global D3 Slack team https://d3js.slack.com/ via Slackin Invite
• If you need help with D3 coding, ask here in the #help channel
• If you make something you’re proud of, post it in the #examples channel

Course Approach:

• We will use the Canvas system for content organization and submission of assignments.
• Canvas course URL: https://canvas.wpi.edu/courses/8118
• Please access this URL now with your WPI credentials and have a look around.
• Course material will be delivered weekly as video, assigned reading, and links to external resources such as fantastic lectures on YouTube, articles, examples and tutorials.
• Weeks begin on Thursday at 7am and close on Wednesday at 11:59pm.
• All student work will be turned in by Wednesday 11:59pm of the given week,
  otherwise will be considered as late.
• The course will run for 10 weeks.
• Students will be expected to put in approximately 10-15 hours of work per week, between absorbing course material, completing assignments, and working on projects.

Course Content:

Note: Weekly assignments may be subject to change, and will be given in detail week by week.

Course Requirements:

• Grade Determination Breakdown 

Course incompletes may be granted if the major part of the course is completed; however, no additional credit can be given for missed class discussions or teamwork beyond the end of the course (November 9, 2017).  In addition, in the case of an incomplete, the student is responsible for handing in the final work within the WPI required timeframe of one (1) year.  After this time, an incomplete grade changes to a failing (F) grade

• Assignments

We will have weekly assignments, due by the end of the week (Wednesday 11:59PM). Submission of the assignments will usually be inside the Canvas online system.
Many assignments will involve submission of a link to your work in an external system such as GitHub or bl.ocks.org. Feedback can be expected one week after submission.

• Late Work Policy

Late work will be accepted, with a 10% grade penalty for each day that it is late.

Resubmissions based on initial grading and feedback will be re-graded if submitted before the deadline. You may re-submit as many times as you like before the deadline. After the deadline for an assignment, it will only be graded once and the grade will not be updated after subsequent resubmissions. Please submit a few days ahead of the deadline so you can get feedback, resubmit based on feedback, and maximize your grade.

• Class Participation Expectations and Criteria

Our Slack team will function as participatory space for discussion, like a classroom. Students are encouraged and expected to actively participate in discussions there. Sometimes, assignments will include a discussion participation dimension. This may involve sharing your work with the class, posting your response to a specific question, or responding to the posts of others (peer feedback). Participation in code reviews via GitHub may also be required. Each assignment will include specific grading criteria with regard to participation.

Technical Requirements:

• Chrome Web Browser
• Node.js, NPM (recommended installation method: creationix/nvm)
• Git, GitHub account

Library Access:

As a student at WPI, you have access to a variety of resources through the library.  Use the link here to access databases, e-journals, and/or e-books.  You will be required to log in with your WPI username and password to access materials.

POLICIES

Academic Integrity:

You are expected to be familiar with the Student Guide to Academic Integrity at WPI that is downloadable from here.  Consequences for violating the Academic Honest Policy range from earning a zero on the assignment, failing the course, or being suspended or expelled from WPI.

Common examples of violations include:

• Copying and pasting text directly from a source without providing appropriately cited credit. When copy-pasting code (which is an accepted practice), you MUST provide the URL from which the code originated AND the full name of the original author.
• Paraphrasing, summarizing, or rephrasing from a source without providing citations.
• Collaborating on individual assignments.

Academic Accommodations:

We at WPI strive to create an inclusive environment where all students are valued members of the class community.  If you need course adaptations or accommodations because of a disability, or if you have medical information to share with us that may impact your performance or participation in this course, please make an appointment with us as soon as possible.  If you have approved accommodations, please request your accommodation letters online through the Office of Disability Services student portal.  If you have not already done so, students with disabilities who need to utilize accommodations for this course are encouraged to contact the Office of Disability Services as soon as possible to ensure that such accommodations are implemented in a timely fashion.

Email – DisabilityServices@wpi.edu

Phone – (508) 831-4908

On Campus – Daniels Hall, First Floor 124

Grading Policy:

Final course grades are based on a student’s performance as follows:

Course incompletes may be granted if the major part of the course is completed; however, no additional credit can be given for missed class discussions or teamwork beyond the end of the course (November 9, 2017).  In addition, in the case of an incomplete, the student is responsible for handing in the final work within the WPI required timeframe of one (1) year.  After this time, an incomplete grade changes to a failing (F) grade.