|
|
|
Quantitative Reasoning 46:
The Visual Display of Quantitative Information
Alyssa A. Goodman
Syllabus:
Course Catalog Description:
This course focuses on the insight into quantitative information offered by graphs, tables, charts, maps, and other illustrations. We analyze which of these tools are best for communicating what kinds of data, and why. Ideas about causality, approximation, statistical significance, credibility, and dimensionality will be addressed by analyzing real data, and their display. The data will be drawn from medical, astronomical, social-science, aerospace, financial, and geographic examples. Approximately one-quarter of the course will focus on web and live (e.g. PowerPoint) presentations of data. Much of the course's philosophy is based on the work of Edward Tufte (edwardtufte.com).
Project Sets (35% of final grade)
For each major section of the course, students will be required to complete a "project." Each project will require the students to either use an existing data set, or acquire his or her own, in order to produce a table, graph, chart, illustration, web page, presentation or some combination thereof. Additionally, each project will require the use of (basic) algebraic, geometric and/or statistical calculations in preparing the data for display. It will be assumed that all students have access to Microsoft Excel, but software beyond Excel will also be needed for Project Sets.* Exemplary student project sets will be posted by the Teaching Fellows on the course web site.
* The programs I expect students will want to use most (and which I will use for in-class demonstrations) are DataDesk (from Data Description) and Igor (from Wavemetrics). I have personal connections at both Data Description and Wavemetrics, so I am reasonably confident that we can acquire inexpensive site licenses for students in the course to download and then use those packages.
Section (10%) and Live Presentation (10%)
Section meetings will focus on materials related to the project sets, and occasionally on additional examples chosen by the section leaders. These leaders (the TF's for the course) will be free to choose examples from their own discipline.
Near the end of the term, a live 8-minute presentation will be given by each student in section, and the best presentation from each section will be repeated in the course's concluding lecture slot. The subject of each student's presentation will be chosen by the student by no later than the 5th week of the term, in consultation with the section leader. Exemplary student presentations will be posted to the course web site, in both "graphical" (e.g. handouts or visuals) and video form.
Midterm Exam (20%)
The midterm exam will ask students to critique and analyze data from sample graphs, tables, charts and maps presented (for the first time) on the exam. Some examples will be drawn from newspaper illustrations current at the time. For example, students might be asked to use basic ideas about line and curve fitting discussed in class to project the value of the stock market a week, month, or year from the day of the exam. The midterm will be scheduled 40% of the way through the term, in order to leave ample time to identify any students falling behind.
Final Exam (25%)
An in-class final will require students to create pencil-and-paper graphs (e.g. x-y function and scatter plots, histograms, contour diagrams, etc.), illustrating a variety of mathematical ideas they will learn throughout the course. Calculators will be allowed, but not laptop computers.
Potential Special Guests
In preparing this course, I have consulted with many friends and acquaintances who have offered to "guest lecture" when their topic might be relevant. While I plan to be present at, and participate in, all meetings of the course, I also think perspectives from experts outside my own specialty (astronomy) would be useful on a limited number of occasions. Some of the most likely guests at the course might be:
Edward Tufte: Professor Emeritus, Yale University, World-renowned expert on the subject of the course
Joel Hellman: Lead Specialist, Governance and Public Sector Reform, Europe and Central Asia Region, The World Bank
Steve Krug: Author of "Don't Make Me Think: Common Sense Approach to Web Usability"
Harvey Leonard: Chief Meteorologist, WHDH TV Boston
Representative of Department of Biostatistics: Faculty Member, Harvard School of Public Health (and/or Medical Graphics Illustrator)
|
![[red bar]](red_long.gif)
![[AG navigation bar]](/images/white.gif){kind=small}
![[AG Home]](/images/ag-home.gif)
![[AG Search]](/images/ag-search.gif)
![[AG Contact]](/images/ag-contact.gif)
