Storytelling with Data in Tableau

8 hours of instruction (Tableau)

Once students know how to build data visualizations, they can incorporate data storytelling best practices to maximize the impact of their reports and discoveries. This course covers effective techniques to map out a data presentation and practice those skills in Tableau. By the end of the program, students will be able to establish context around data, identify appropriate charts for their messaging, and communicate findings clearly to stakeholders.

OBJECTIVES

1. Identify and understand the components of a story involving data visualizations
2. Assess the storytelling context and strategize about meeting different audience needs
3. Select, sequence, and refine visualizations to suit a narrative structure
4. Effectively communicate data to enhance audience understanding
5. Understand and explain the affordances of different storytelling formats

PREREQUISITES

Attendees need to have a strong familiarity with Tableau and using the tool to create visualizations and dashboards.

SYLLABUS & TOPICS COVERED

1. What is data storytelling?
   • Data storytelling vs. data visualization
   • The advantages of narrative structure
2. Identifying key insights
   • Moving from EDA to insight generation in Tableau
   • Translating an insight from visualization to ordinary language
   • Using an interactive dashboard to generate insights
3. Tailoring an insight to suit an audience
   • Audience structure and the elements of persuasive storytelling
   • Audience mapping for story-based success
4. Generating an outline
   • Beginning in the middle: transforming an insight into the outcome (climax) of a story
   • Scaffolding a story: problem, outcome, actions, and measures
   • Generating multiple outlines to present insights to different audiences
5. Sequencing data visualizations through storyboarding
   • The building blocks of a compelling, urgent story
   • From ordinary language back to data visualizations
   • Learning from the best: reverse outlining as best practice
6. Formatting a data story
   • The relative affordances of direct vs. indirect formats
   • Altering, editing, and combining formats
7. Putting it all together: creating a data story through a guided workshop experience

SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS

Tableau