Information Visualization
Anselm Spoerri, Ph.D.
SC&I, Rutgers University
aspoerri@rutgers.edu
Course
Description
Grading
Policy
This course provides a thorough introduction to the emerging field of
Information Visualization.
The goal of Information Visualization is to use human perceptual
capabilities to gain insights into large and abstract data sets that are
difficult to extract using standard query languages.
Specific abstract data sets that will be studied are: symbolic, tabular,
networked, hierarchical, or textual information.
The course objectives are:
 Provide a sound foundation in human visual perception and how it
relates to creating effective information visualizations.
 Understand the key design principles for creating information
visualizations.
 Study the major existing techniques and systems in information
visualization.
 Evaluate information visualizations tools.
 Design new, innovative visualizations.
Participation
(5%)
 You are expected to participate at least twice in each discussion
topic in a thoughtful and insightful way. You will receive feedback
on your participation in the weekly class discussions at end of
week 7 and the final score will be assigned at the end of week 15.
Short Reports
(15%)
 You will write short reports, using a provided template, for several
papers or book chapters that will be made available electronically
– see Schedule.
Visualization Tasks
(25%)
 You will create ManyEyes, Google Motion Chart, Tableau and
Google Fusion Table visualizations. Instructions and suggestions
for specific data sets to visualize will be provided – see Schedule.
Evaluation of InfoVis Tool
(15%)
 You will conduct a Heuristic Evaluation of a tool or website TBA
using Nielsen's 10 Heuristics. A template will be provided that you
will use to write a short report (4-5 pages) that identifies usability
issues and suggests improvements.
DataStory Design Principles & Examples
(15%)
 You will write a paper that describes your understanding, based
on the materials covered and the topics discussed in class, how to
design an effective “DataStory” and provide examples. The goal is
to combine and synthesize the papers by all students to hopefully
arrive at a “DataStory Manifesto”.
Term Project and Presentation
(25%)
Individual Projects
 Review and Analyze existing visualization tools for specific
data domain
OR
Create a How to Guide that describes how to visualize certain
data sets and which tools can be used.
OR
 Evaluate Information Visualization tool: conduct a user study
to evaluate a visualization tool.
OR
 Create Information Visualization prototype: creating or
enhancing a visualization tool.
OR
Group Project
 Collect Large Data Set for specific data domain
and/or Use Data APIs to access large data domain.
 Use Visualization Tool(s), such as ManyEyes, Google Motion
Charts, Tableau, and/or Google Fusion Tables to visualize data.
 Develop DataStory for selected data domain and presented
data.
Proposal Deadline = Week 7. Send instructor 1 page proposal.
Term Project Report Deadline = Week 15.
Grading
Scale
Textbooks
Email
Policy
92
89
82
79
72
–
–
–
–
–
100
91
88
81
78
A
B+
B
C+
C
Data Journalism Handbook - Online Version:
http://datajournalismhandbook.org/1.0/en/
Papers to read will be available electronically – see Schedule and
Lectures pages.
I will make an effort to respond to your emails within 48 hours –
often it may be faster and sometimes slower. As we are approaching
the due date for Term Project, you can expect that I will answer your
emails within hours in the week before the project is due.
Threaded
Discussion
Policy
Virtual
Office
Hours
Most weeks I will suggest a topic to be discussed in a threaded
discussion and I expect you all to participate at least TWICE in
every discussion topic in a thoughtful and insightful fashion.
A discussion will become active on the Wednesday of the week it is
assigned to and it will close Sunday at Midnight of that same week.
Weekly one hour Adobe Connect meeting will be held on a day
and time TBA. The attendance is voluntary.
Threaded Discussion in the Virtual Office is meant to serve as
community resource for all of you, where you can ask for content
help from your fellow students and instructor.
Adobe Connect / Skype: I will make myself available to talk to you
via Adobe Connect or Skype by appointment only if a question can
not be answered or technical problem can not be solved via email or
Adobe Connect chat. In the week before the Term project is due, I
will post hours when I can be reached and you can call me during
those time periods or we can schedule an appointment.
Attendance / Participation Policy
Attendance and participation in each class session is an important requirement as they
provide indicators of engagement with the course, learning needs, and important
foundations for all class assignments. The availability of course material and notes online
does not represent a replacement of class attendance. Students should inform the
instructor, in advance when possible, of conditions warranting absence from class:

Illness requiring medical attention;

Curricular or extracurricular activities approved by the School;

Personal obligations claimed by the student and recognized as valid (for example,
death / serious illness of relative or family member);

Recognized religious holidays;

Severe inclement weather causing dangerous travel conditions; (note that the
university

formally advises via the Rutgers Web site if classes are cancelled due to weather)
Written documentation is strongly recommended for absenteeism.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism
The consequences of scholastic dishonesty are very serious. Rutgers’ academic integrity
policy can be found at: http://ctaar.rutgers.edu/integrity/policy.html.
An overview of this policy may be found at http://cat.rutgers.edu/integrity/student.html.
Multimedia presentations about academic integrity may be found at
http://academicintegrity.rutgers.edu/multimedia.shtml and
http://www.scc.rutgers.edu/douglass/sal/plagiarism/intro.html
If you are doubtful about any issue related to plagiarism or scholastic dishonesty, please
discuss it with the instructor.
Serving Student with Disabilities
Rutgers University welcomes students with disabilities into all of the University's educational
programs. In order to receive consideration for reasonable accommodations, a student with
a disability must contact the appropriate disability services office at the campus where you
are officially enrolled, participate in an intake interview, and provide documentation:
https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/documentation-guidelines. If the documentation supports
your request for reasonable accommodations, your campus's disability services office will
provide you with a Letter of Accommodations. Please share this letter with your instructors
and discuss the accommodations with them as early in your courses as possible. To begin
this process, please complete the Registration form on the ODS web site at:
https://ods.rutgers.edu/students/registration-form.
Students with disabilities (both short‐ and long‐term) who wish accommodations in this class
must do so through the Rutgers Disabilities Services Office and/or the Associate Dean Karen
Novick (knovick@rutgers.edu).
Other Information
Students seeking help with the content of this course should contact the instructor either
during office hours, or make a separate appointment.
Students seeking help with the scheduling of classes or registration should contact the SC&I
Student Services Office in Room 214 of the SC&I Building.
A great deal of information is available on the SC&I website, including course descriptions
and details about all degree programs: http://comminfo.rutgers.edu.
Rutgers has Learning Centers on each campus where any student can obtain tutoring and
other help; for information, check http://lrc.rutgers.edu/ Rutgers also has a Writing
Program where students can obtain help with writing skills and assignments:
http://plangere.rutgers.edu/index.html.
SC&I IT Services offers help with a variety of technology problems. They are located in the
SC&I Building in Room 120 (first floor); (848) 932-5555; help@comminfo.rutgers.edu.