Visualizations

CODAP’s graphs are limited. I think that’s a good thing in this context, because entering into the broader world of visualizations would be a distraction. Really, it’s a whole ’nother course.

So this part will limit itself to helping students see what’s possible in CODAP. The basics are easy, but some not-basics can be a little subtle.

To do this, we’ll also indulge in a little design philosophy, partly so you can see where the designers are coming from, the better to anticipate how CODAP might make something work.

Student graphs and commentary

Before that, however:

In our work with the students, we focus on communicating well with the graphs that CODAP makes available.

Here is a problematic example of what well-meaning students can create:

A student graph about mobility.

This graph leaves us in an “awash” state. It does show the data, and a careful reader can figure out some patterns, but it’s too busy, too complicated, too much work for the reader to understand what’s going on. As a good communicator, you want your audience to get your message as easily as possible. Sure, you want them to think, but you want them to start thinking already seeing what you see in the data.

So consider two things we could do about it. One is to turn dots into bars, and leverage the legend. The other is to make some a new summary attribute or two, and plot those.

Notice that both choices involve grouping and summarizing. The bars-and-legend version gives you one plausible graphic scheme for free; yet the DIY choice—making attributes—is more flexible, though for the moment it limits you to dots.