Mapping and Data VisualizationPresenters’ NamesDate

Information Visualization and Mapping

• Students often struggle with research, even research that contains statistics, graphs, and map-able data.

• Even if the research is good, we must enable them to make meaning from that research.

• Information visualization (infovis) is one way that students can apply tools to make sense from researched information:

“The principle task of information visualization is to allow information to be derived from data”

(Spence, 2006).

Google Mapshttp://maps.google.com

What is Google Maps good for?• Google Maps (through the “My Maps” feature) allows

you to place markers and write descriptions of places. • However, creatively using this software allows you to

do a lot of other things.• The following are just some examples of what can be

done with it in the classroom and the workplace.

For English Class• Your Subtopic Goes Here

Student Example

For Research Paper Presentations• Your Subtopic Goes Here

For mapping locations• Your Subtopic Goes Here

Google Maps How To and Activity• This handout describes how to get started creating

custom maps• In groups, spend a few minutes playing with this tool.

What can you find, what can you create?

Discussion• In your groups, consider how this can be used in class.

After you will be asked to share your ideas with everyone.

Wordlehttp://www.wordle.net

This is a Wordle Map

What is Wordle good for?• Wordle is best used as a text analysis tool• One example of student use would be to run all sources

for a research project through it to search for trends and connections separately

• They might also choose to run them through all at once (copying and pasting each document behind the next) to look at overall trends.

• Students could also create maps of their own documents to see if they map out in ways the student originally intended

• It could also be used to create interesting visuals for presentations

Wordle How To and Activity

• Please refer to the handout on Wordle to go to the website (http://www.wordle.net)

• Use Wordle to analyze your syllabus or other course documents that you have already created for this term.

Discussion• Discuss your cloud with the people seated around you

(your previous small group). What surprises you? What came out exactly as you expected? What can you do with this information?

Many Eyeshttp://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/

Many Eyes

What is Many Eyes good for?

• Many Eyes is best used for analyzing statistical data (numbers!)

• Although it does have word and text analysis tools, these are not as powerful

• It can also be used to create network diagrams like a Wordle chart for statistical data that has some sort of non-statistical factor (such as location)

Another Example

How to and Activity• Please look at the handout on using Many Eyes to view

its website: http://manyeyes.alphaworks.ibm.com/manyeyes/

• Follow the directions on this handout to create a sample data set in Many Eyes and begin to visualize it. You may work in groups.

• At least one group member needs to create an IBM log in.

• Play with your data once it is visualized!

Discussion

• What uses can you imagine this tool having in the classroom?

• What surprised you about the tool?• What problems did you run into? How did you fix

them?• What advantages does this system have over creating

charts in Excel?

Sites for Collecting Data

Sites to get research data• http://data.un.org/ • http://www.nationmaster.com/index.php• http://www.gapminder.org/

Questions?

Please fill out surveys before you leave!