Using Information Visualization to Promote Computing Education

Contributor

Information visualization (InfoVis) refers to the use of computer-supported, interactive, visual representations of quantitative and qualitative data to simplify and support problem solving and decision making. Drawing on research in behavioral economics, the decision sciences, human-computer interaction, cognitive science, social psychology, graphic design, computer science, semiotics, visual literacy, interface design, art, cartography, and statistics, high-quality InfoVis facilitate the effective communication of otherwise abstract, complex, or overwhelming information.

InfoVis provides an engaging platform to teach big data, data analysis and creativity in computing. It is also a powerful marketing tool outside of the classroom to promote computing education such as this infographic, "Why the US STEM Initiative Shouldn't Overlook Computer Science", created by the New Jersey Institute of Technology, and "The Landscape of Computer Science Professional Development" created by the University of Chicago's Center for Elementary Mathematics and Science Education (CEMSE), one of the newest members of the CS10K community.

“Why the US STEM Initiative Shouldn’t Overlook Computer Science”, created by New Jersey Institute of Technology - See more at: http://computerscience.online.njit.edu/us-stem-initiative/?utm_campaign=October2013Eva&utm_medium=Hodes%2BSocial%2BAccelerator&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=2013-10-31-16-03-54&goback=.gde_1146517_member_5796698954737414144#sthash.wKvBEMeQ.dpuf
“Why the US STEM Initiative Shouldn’t Overlook Computer Science”, created by New Jersey Institute of Technology - See more at: http://computerscience.online.njit.edu/us-stem-initiative/?utm_campaign=October2013Eva&utm_medium=Hodes%2BSocial%2BAccelerator&utm_source=twitter&utm_term=2013-10-31-16-03-54&goback=.gde_1146517_member_5796698954737414144#sthash.wKvBEMeQ.dpuf

I generated a number of interactive visualizations to show where in the United States members of the CS10K community are learning and working together to increase access to computer science education. Let us know what you think about the visualizations and whether you are using infovis in your own classrooms!

 

New to InfoVis?

Here are some of my favorite resources:

  • Readings in Information Visualization: Using Vision to Think (Book)
  • OLIVE: On-line Library of Information Visualization Environments (Website)
  • ExcelCharts: Data Visualization Blog
  • Tableau Public (Software)
  • How to Become a Data Visualization Expert: A Recipe (Blog)
  • FlowingData (Website)
  • Driven By Data (Website)
  • visual.ly (website)
  • Visual Complexity (website)

 

 

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