Jan 21 · #1
LABLab 0: Python review (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DATApenguins
DUEPre-course survey (Canvas); Lab 0 due Sun
DS 2003: Communicating with Data
Spring 2027 · Tue/Thu · Sarah Groves · Computer setup guide · Canvas
Office hours: TBA
Slides, labs, and in-class activities for the whole semester are linked below. Submissions and grades are on Canvas. Anything past this week is tentative and will probably move around.
Tuesday
Thursday
Week 1Jan 19–21Unit 1: Exploratory visualization: the building blocks
Jan 19
No class (courses begin Wed 1/20)Week 2Jan 26–28
Jan 28 · #3
CLASSLevels of measurement sort, Simpson's Paradox
LABLab 1: pandas & data types (nbviewer · download .ipynb, rubric)
DATAvolcanoes
READA Tour through the Visualization Zoo
DUEProject 1 assigned; Lab 1 due Sun
Week 3Feb 2–4
Feb 4 · #5
CLASSDecoding charts
LABLab 2: grouping & aggregating (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DUEP1 topic & dataset due Sun; Lab 2 due Sun
Week 4Feb 9–11
Feb 9 · #6
Feb 11 · #7
CLASSColormap Designer: guided sandbox, Colormap Designer: assignment (notebook: nbviewer · download .ipynb)
LABLab 3: anatomy of a figure (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DATApenguins, fastfood, flights, volcanoes
DUEBad-viz discussion post due; Colormap activity due; End-of-unit-1 survey due Sat; Lab 3 due Sun
Week 5Feb 16–18
Feb 16 · #8
Feb 18 · #9
CLASSOne chart, one flaw
LABLab 4: encodings, color & chart types (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DATApenguins, flights, fastfood
DUELab 4 due Sun
Week 6Feb 23–25
Feb 25 · #11
Applications
CLASSFixing bad charts (charts)
LABLab 5: bad chart redesign (nbviewer · download .ipynb, charts)
DATAbad-chart data
DUEP1 question sketches; Lab 5 due Sun
Week 7Mar 2–4
Mar 2 · #12
Week 8Mar 9–11
Mar 9
No class (Spring recess)Mar 11
No class (Spring recess)Week 9Mar 16–18Unit 2: Explanatory visualization: storytelling
Mar 16 · #14
Project 1 presentations, day 1
Mar 18 · #15
Project 1 presentations, day 2
DUEProject 1 due
Week 10Mar 23–25
Mar 25 · #17
CLASSScreenshot Hunt
LABLab 7: interactive EDA with Plotly: NBA 2025-26 (notebook + data, .zip)
DATANBA
READNarrative Visualization (Segel & Heer)
DUEP2 groups picked; P2 proposal due Sun; Lab 7 due Sun
Week 11Mar 30 – Apr 1
Mar 30 · #18
Apr 1 · #19
LABLab 8: network visualization: has the Senate become more polarized? (notebook + data, .zip)
DATAsenate
DUELab 8 due Sun
Week 12Apr 6–8
Apr 6 · #20
Apr 8 · #21
LABLab 9: sketch a data story, then make it interactive (ipywidgets) (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DATAgapminder, fandango, births, college majors, Bechdel, airline safety
DUELab 9 due Sun
Week 13Apr 13–15
Apr 13 · #22
Apr 15 · #23
Data journalism
LABLab 10 (light): annotating charts in matplotlib (nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DATABake Off bakers, Bake Off ratings
DUEP2 narrative structure due Sun; Lab 10 due Sun
Week 14Apr 20–22
Apr 20 · #24
Data quality & deceptive plots
Apr 22 · #25
Ethics & rhetoric
CLASSProject 2 design critique
DUEP2 sketches in class; P2 critique reflection due Sun
Week 15Apr 27–29
Apr 27 · #26
Project 2 work session (optional: alluvial diagrams: nbviewer · download .ipynb)
DUEP2 slides due Wed 4/28
Apr 29 · #27
Project 2 presentations, day 1
Week 16May 4Final week
May 4 · #28
Project 2 presentations, day 2, Last class: Worst Chart Contest 🍕
DUEP2 final notebook + infographic / science vis due (exam period, date TBA)