The Power of Data Visualization: Advanced Presentations of NRS Data By: Michelle Yin David Hollender Larry Condelli Dahlia Shewitz Amanda Duffy Marcela Movit AMERICAN INSTITUTES FOR RESEARCH® 1000 Thomas Jefferson Street, NW Washington, DC 20007 This guide was prepared for the project: Enhancing and Strengthening Accountability in Adult Education Contract # ED-VAE-10-O-0107 For: U.S. Department of Education Office of Vocational and Adult Education Division of Adult Education and Literacy Cheryl Keenan, Director Division of Adult Education and Literacy Jay LeMaster, Program Specialist Division of Adult Education and Literacy January 2014 Content Chapter 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 1 Data Dashboards ....................................................................................................................... 2 Infographics .............................................................................................................................. 2 NRS Training Guides ................................................................................................................ 4 Chapter 2. Data Dashboards ........................................................................................................ 7 Why Use Dashboards? .............................................................................................................. 7 When to Use Dashboards .......................................................................................................... 8 Essential Characteristics of Dashboards ................................................................................... 8 What Dashboards Are NOT ...................................................................................................... 9 Method for Planning, Designing, and Using Dashboards....................................................... 10 Planning Phase: Identify Audience and Goals ........................................................................ 11 Planning Phase: Identify Key Questions................................................................................. 13 Planning Phase: Identify Measures and Metrics ..................................................................... 15 Design Phase: Content, Layout, and Aesthetics ..................................................................... 17 Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 29 Chapter 3. Infographics.............................................................................................................. 31 Why Use Infographics?........................................................................................................... 31 Characteristics of Infographics ............................................................................................... 32 Types of Infographics ............................................................................................................. 32 Designing Effective Infographics: Basic Principles ............................................................... 41 Steps to Create Effective Infographics ................................................................................... 43 Selecting a Color Scheme ....................................................................................................... 47 Tools to Create Infographics for Nondesigners ...................................................................... 49 Chapter 4. Data Dashboards and Infographics: The Good and the Bad .............................. 51 Good and Bad Data Dashboards ............................................................................................. 51 Good and Bad Infographics .................................................................................................... 55 A Few Infographics the NRS Team Really Likes .................................................................. 66 References .................................................................................................................................... 73 Appendix A: Dashboard Summary, Tools, and Planner for Data Dashboard Development ............................................................................................................................. A–1 Appendix B: Checklist for Designing an Effective Infographic ........................................... B–1 The Power of Data Visualization: Advanced Presentations of NRS Data i List of Figures Figure 1-1: Sample Data Dashboard ............................................................................................... 3 Figure 1-2: The History of Infographics ......................................................................................... 4 Figure 2-1: Phases of Dashboard Development and Use.............................................................. 10 Figure 2-2: Dashboard Development Planner With Goals ........................................................... 12 Figure 2-3: Dashboard Development Planner With Key Questions ............................................. 14 Figure 2-4: Dashboard Development Planner With Measures and Metrics ................................. 16 Figure 2-5: GED Pass Rates Metrics for Data Dashboard ............................................................ 19 Figure 2-6: Comparing Text and Bar Charts ................................................................................ 20 Figure 2-7: Stacked Bar Chart ...................................................................................................... 21 Figure 2-8: Stacked Area Chart .................................................................................................... 21 Figure 2-9: Line Charts ................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 2-10: Heat Map .................................................................................................................. 22 Figure 2-11: Enrollment and Advancement Trends...................................................................... 23 Figure 2-12: Customized Chart of Advancement and Contact Hours .......................................... 23 Figure 2-13: Dashboard Development Planner With Visualization Plans .................................... 25 Figure 2-14: Sample Layout for Data Dashboard ......................................................................... 26 Figure 2-15: Grouping Metrics in a Dashboard ............................................................................ 27 Figure 3-1: Visualized Article Infographic ................................................................................... 33 Figure 3-2: Flowchart Infographic ................................................................................................ 34 Figure 3-3: Timeline Infographic.................................................................................................. 35 Figure 3-4: Two Useful Bait Infographics .................................................................................... 36 Figure 3-5: By the Numbers Infographic ...................................................................................... 37 Figure 3-6: Versus Infographic ..................................................................................................... 38 Figure 3-7: Photo Infographic ....................................................................................................... 39 Figure 3-8: Data Visualization Infographic .................................................................................. 40 Figure 3-9: Which Infographic Should You Use? ........................................................................ 43 Figure 3-10: Color Emotion Guide ............................................................................................... 48 List of Exhibits Exhibit 4-1: Dashboard Examples ................................................................................................ 52 Exhibit 4-2: Infographic Examples 1 ............................................................................................ 55 Exhibit 4-3: Infographic Examples 2 ............................................................................................ 57 Exhibit 4-4: Infographic Examples 3 ............................................................................................ 60 Exhibit 4-5: Infographic Examples 4 ............................................................................................ 62 Exhibit 4-6: Infographics the NRS Team Likes ........................................................................... 67 Exhibit A-1: Sample Dashboard Planner ................................................................................... A–4 ii The Power of Data Visualization: Advanced Presentations of NRS Data Chapter 1. Introduction The National Reporting System (NRS) was implemented in 2000 to meet the need for data about the federally funded adult education program. As the accountability system for the program, the NRS provides information about the characteristics of students, their educational gains, and achievement of other outcomes related to program participation. States and the Office of Vocation and Adult Education (OVAE) have used these data to describe students, demonstrate program effectiveness, document the need for adult education instruction,