💻 Week 03 - Class Roadmap (90 min)

2025/26 Autumn Term

Welcome to our third seminar/lab class of DS101A.

This week is all about data visualisation. We will discuss what data visualisation is about, why it is important and how to do it well.

Step 01 (~5 min)

Here, we’ll discuss the top 3 best/worst visualisations you’ve posted on Slack as part of the preparation work you’ve been asked to do here.

Step 02 - Discussion without prompt (~15 min)

• Pair up with the neighbours in your table (groups of 3-4) and discuss the following:
• What do you think data visualisation is?
• What is it useful for? Why do we do it?
• Do you have examples of data visualisation/plots in mind?
• Any bad practices/challenges that come to mind?
• Share

Step 03 - Discussion with prompts (~15 min)

• Now, look at the following materials:

  1 - Article 1

  2 - Article 2

  3 - Article 3

  4 - xkcd comic 1

  5 - xkcd comic 2

  6 - xkcd comic 3

  7 - xkcd comic 4

• Discuss them with your neighbours

• Share your insights with the wider class

🍵 Break (~10 min)

Step 04 - Typologising bad data visualisations (~45 min)

• Your class teacher will show you a series of visualisations.
• What do you think of the visualisations shown? Are they well-done? Or do they have any flaws And if so, which? Discuss.

After Lab Activity

Watch and Learn:

Watch this essential video on effective data visualisation:

• This video is central to understanding both good practices and common pitfalls in data visualisation

• Take notes on the key principles of data visualisation

• Note the techniques for creating effective visualisations

Explore common visualization pitfalls:

Browse through this repository:

Friends Don’t Let Friends Make Bad Charts

• This provides useful information about misleading/suboptimal practices that can pervade otherwise honest data science

• Pick 2-3 examples that you find particularly important or surprising (or even amusing)