Data analytics isn’t just about crunching numbers and hacking data pipelines. It’s about telling stories and, as Rod Stewart tells us, every picture tells a story. So, data visualization goes arm-in-arm with data storytelling as one of those skills than can really make a business impact.
Tableau has democratized what it takes to build stunning data visualizations. As a pioneer in so-called “self-service BI,” it’s the equivalent to a desktop-publishing tool for charts and dashboards.
This workshop covers the basics of Tableau with best practices of information design in mind. By the end of the workshop, students will be ready to create that most jaw-dropping of data assets, the dashboard.
Learning about “pills” and “shelves” is just part of the equation, too. While it’s great that Tableau nudges users into making the appropriate chart with their data, users should always practice data visualization with information design principles in mind. That’s another focus of this learning guide, which is yours free below.
Lesson 1: Tableau & self-service BI
Objective: Student can identify the Tableau stack of tools and their role in the data analytics workflow
Description:
- What is Tableau and when would I use it?
- The Tableau suite of tools
- What Tableau can do for you
Exercises: Explore Tableau Public
Assets needed: None
Time: 25 minutes
Lesson 2: Importing & preparing data
Objective: Student can read, clean and merge data from tabular datasets
Description:
- Sorting and filtering
- Changing data types
- Blending data sources
- Cleaning data with Data Interpreter
Exercises: Drills
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 35 minutes
Exercises: Drills
Assets needed: Retail orders dataset
Time: 40 minutes
Lesson 3: Building visualizations
Objective: Student can use information design principles to build visualizations
Description:
- The art & science of dataviz
- Tableaucabulary
- Starting with Show Me
- Building vizzes in Tableau
- Saving and sharing workbooks
Exercises: Building & sharing workbooks
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 50 minutes
Lesson 4: Aggregations and calculated fields
Objective: Student can create calculated fields, parameters and table calculations
Description:
- Calculated fields
- Table calculations
- Sets
- Parameters
Exercises: Drills
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 50 minutes
Lesson 5: Getting started with dashboards
Objective: Student can use information design principles to build basic dashboards
Description:
- What is a dashboard?
- Different types of dashboards
- Creating a dashboard in Tableau
- Modifying a dashboard in Tableau
Exercises: Practice building a dashboard
Assets needed: Baseball records
Time: 50 minutes
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