April 27th is National Tell a Story Day, where people are “encouraged to share all kinds of stories.”
So… how about a data story?
What is a data story?
We think of data as the cold, hard facts and literature as the realm of enrapturing fantasy. But, what if we can take some of that magic of storytelling and infuse it into our data analysis?
That’s the gist of data storytelling: we want to use literary techniques to capture our audience’s attention and emotions.
It’s a delicate blend of art and science, but it can be done, and done phenomenally. To take an example, check out this below clip by the legendary late public health scholar Hans Rosling:
Dr. Rosling made the data come alive and got you excited about his analysis, right? Imagine using this approach at work: whose buy-in could you get? Maybe the famously stubborn executive whose ears perk up when you can translate your analysis into easy dollars-and-cents recommendations? Or staff who can sense their own experiences reflected in the data, and nod along at your story?
Learning guide: one-day data storytelling workshop
For this workshop, I decided to focus on using PowerPoint for storytelling effect. Sure, it’s a famously-abused tool, but there’s no getting around its ubiquity and usefulness. To help learners use and not abuse PowerPoint, the workshop includes a section on best practices in information design.
Like all stories, data stories take a lot of preparation. That’s why I devote workshop-like capstone to this workshop, so that students can practice their storytelling skills with their peers.
And there are so many stories to tell in the Lahman baseball records, which contains tables on everything from Hall of Fame inductions to salaries, some going back over 100 years.
Lesson 1: What is a data story?
Objective: Student can identify the elements and features of data-driven storytelling
Description:
- If Aristotle were an analyst: elements of data storytelling
Exercises: Quiz
Assets needed: None
Time: 45 minutes
Lesson 2: Up and running with PowerPoint
Objective: Student can navigate the fundamental features and functions of PowerPoint
Description:
- Navigating the ribbon
- Adding and modifying content
- Customizing themes and formatting
- Importing photos, icons and Excel-based data assets
Exercises: Quiz
Assets needed: None
Time: 45 minutes
Lesson 3: Principles of information design
Objective: Student can use information design principles to build PowerPoint presentations
Description:
- The struggle of data storytelling
- Thinking like a designer
- Choosing the right representation
Exercises: Quiz
Assets needed: None
Time: 45 minutes
Lesson 4: Preparing your data story
Objective: Student can prepare all assets necessary to deliver presentation
Description:
- Mapping a presentation
- Building visualization
- Gathering presentation assets
Exercises: Building & sharing workbooks and slides
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 70 minutes
Lesson 5: Presenting your data story
Objective: Student can deliver engaging, compelling data-backed presentation
Description:
- Preparing para-presentation assets
- Speaking compellingly about data
Exercises: Quiz, evaluate recorded presentations
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 70 minutes
Lesson 6: Capstone
Objective: Student can build end-to-end data-backed presentation prototype
Exercises:
- Case briefing
- Check-ins, huddles and time-outs
- Recording final presentation after class
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 3-4 hours
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