Books and Links

There is a wealth of information out there on using Excel and building data visualizations. While there is nothing specific for education, you can still learn a lot from the views offered by the business world. These are some of my favourites.

Books

Stephen Few has written a series of very accessible books about using design to communicate data. If you're struggling to identify what makes a table, chart, or graph look good---and make no mistake, this is critical in order to get your point across---then start here:

• Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten
• Now You See It: Simple Visualization Techniques for Quantitative Analysis
• Information Dashboard: The Effective Visual Communication of Data

Some of the bloggers on the sidebar have written books on specific software or tools, while others offer courses or special features on their websites. Check out titles by Debra Dalgleish for pivot tables or pick up Visualize This: The FlowingData Guide to Design, Visualization, and Statistics by Nathan Yau from Flowing Data.

Here are a few other books you might find useful:

• Data Fluency: Empowering Your Organization with Effective Data Communication by Zach Gemignani, Chris Gemignani, Richard Galentino, and Patrick Schuermann
• Creating More Effective Graphs by Naomi Robbins
• The Functional Art: An Introduction to Information Graphics and Visualization by Alberto Cairo.
• Visual Meetings and Visual Teams by David Sibbet
• Visual Language for Designers: Principles for Creating Graphics That People Understand by Connie Malamed
• Resonate: Present Visual Stories That Transform Audiences by Nancy Duarte

Links

I keep most of my data viz links on Delicious. Go there to find a variety of resources that you can sort by various tags (e.g., Excel, visualization, lesson). I add new resources on a regular basis.

The websites listed below have additional information you can view and access to support your work.

• Visit Chandoo to check out training programs or Jon Peltier for dashboard options.
• Download the Data Visualization Checklist from Ann Emery and Stephanie Evergreen.
• Resources from my various presentations can be found over on an information visualization wiki that I maintain for this purpose. While many of the same links can be found on this blog or on my Delicious site, the wiki pulls them together for specific purposes.
• If you are an  educator, you may be interested in the National Center for Education Statistics is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. You can also learn more about data use in schools by visiting the Data Quality Campaign.
• Be sure to visit my YouTube Channel for all of my screencasts.