Description of the Portfolio
You will choose a dataset during the DataSet Analysis assignment. For the portfolio, you will remediate that dataset three different times: one visual, one interactive, and one analog. You will revise each media object multiple times, refining your data storytelling as you go. At the end, you will give a brief explanation of how each object changed through this process and write a short paper reflecting on data storytelling.
The media objects will be:
- Visualization – web comic, infographic, or data visualization
- Interaction – interactive fiction or game
- De-mediation – analog explainer or visualization
More details on the media objects are at the end of this assignment sheet.
Timeline and Due Dates
- (Friday) Mar 5 – DataSet Analysis due. This is a separate assignment but seemed useful to visualize how it leads into the Portfolio.
Version 1 is reviewed by peers (Engagement Grade). Incorporate that feedback into Version 2, which is reviewed by Dr. Rheams for a grade.
Grading and Evaluation
You will determine how much the Portfolio grade is weighted in your final course grade.
| Excellent | Good | Fair | Needs Improvement | Failing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Media objects are consistently interesting or thought-provoking. | Media objects are mostly interesting or thought-provoking. | Media objects have a clear argument or idea and are occasionally interesting or thought-provoking. | Media objects may lack a clear idea or focus. | One or more media objects is off-topic or so unclear as to be unintelligible. | |
Media objects are consistently daring or interesting on the formal level and utilize the unique affordances of each medium. The form enhances the meaning and is designed to appeal to the intended audience. | Media objects are well-composed and mostly utilize the unique affordances of each medium. For the most part the design appeals to the intended audience. | The form of each media object supports effective communication and attempts to use the unique affordances of each medium. Additionally, each media object indicates an awareness of the audience. | One or more media objects may be unclear, the form disconnected from meaning, or exhibit confusion about the audience. | One or more media objects fails to communicate, is off-topic, formally obscures meaning, or ignores the audience. | |
Data informs the media object and is presented in a way that responsibly enhances a story or makes a compelling argument. | Data informs the media object and is presented responsibly as part of the story or argument. | Data is well-selected and is not presented in a way that would be misleading. | The influence of the data may not be clear or the data may be confusingly presented. | Data is misleading or missing from the media object. | |
First versions are polished. Feedback for peers is consistently concrete and constructive. The student's revisions make extensive improvements to their own work and revisions are explained in the portfolio. | First versions are polished. Feedback for peers is mostly concrete and constructive. The student's revisions show substantial effort and generally improve their work and revisions are explained in the portfolio. | First versions are mostly polished. Feedback for peers makes a substantial effort to give concrete and constructive feedback. The student's revisions show substantial effort and revisions are explained in the portfolio. | First versions may be insubstantial or in draft form. Feedback for peers or revision of one's own work may lack substance and revisions are explained in the portfolio. | First versions are never completed. The student may give unhelpful feedback or fail to revise their own work. The student may not explain their revisions in the portfolio. | |
The paper utilizes class readings and the experience of creating the portfolio to make a thought-provoking argument about data storytelling. The paper is consistently well-written. | The paper includes class readings and the experience of the creating the portfolio to make an argument about data storytelling. The paper is mostly well-written. | The paper may waver in incorporating course readings but attempts to address the “so what” of data storytelling. The paper is mostly well-written. | The paper may not yet have addressed the bigger picture of the class, or may waver in terms of the writing. | The paper is off topic or neglects to address the wider context of the portfolio. |
The Media Objects
You can use any software you like to create media objects. I have recommended a few free, student-friendly platforms below.
Now is where we combine narrative theory, semiotics, and our understanding of data. You’ll “remediate” your chosen dataset into three different media objects. You can take as concrete or abstract an approach to data remediation as you’d like. Unless you specify otherwise, we will assume your audience is educated college students.
Media objects will be turned in via eLearning. You will turn in your first and final versions in the portfolio, so be sure to change the file names when you upload.
Paper 1: Visualization
See:
- Format: webcomic, infographic, or data visualization
- Recommended Platforms: Canva (infographic or comic), or Flourish (visualization)
Paper 2: Interaction
Create an interactive text or a game that shows your data set in a new light. It doesn’t have to indicate every part of the data, but it should help your player or reader understand the issue in a new way. Be creative with your interpretation of the data and pay close attention to how changing the format (medium) changes what ideas you can communicate.
- Format: interactive text or game
Turn in with your project:
Project Postmortem
Somethings likely went great with your project. Some things likely didn’t go as planned or were harder than expected. Create a bullet list with at least three bullets showing what worked and what didn’t work.
- What worked: List three tactics that worked well
- What didn’t work
Essay Paragraph
Write a 200-300 word paragraph (about a page) on how changing a table to a game or story changed not only the medium, but the idea you could communicate. Think about the following questions in your short essay:
- What was the main idea you were trying to communicate?
- How did the idea change?
- Did it become more or less accurate as you worked through the abstraction?
Paper 3: De-mediation
- Format: analog explainer or visualization
- Recommended medium: drawing, fibercraft, stacking things, balloon sculpture, whatever seems interesting…
- Take a five minute video of you interacting with your physical object and explaining how it de-mediates the data and offers a fresh perspective.
- Turn in with your project:
- What worked: List three tactics that worked well
- What didn’t work
- What was the main idea you were trying to communicate?
- How did the idea change?
- Did it become more or less accurate as you worked through the abstraction?
Project Postmortem
Some things likely went great with your project. Some things likely didn’t go as planned or were harder than expected. Create a bullet list with at least three bullets showing what worked and what didn’t work.
Essay Paragraph
Write a 200-300 word paragraph (about a page) on how changing a table to a game or story changed not only the medium, but the idea you could communicate. Think about the following questions in your short essay:
Paper 4: Final Portfolio
- An overview of your three projects
- The original version and final version of your project
- Short explanation of revisions for each project
- Short paper
The Short Paper
The short paper will be part reflection, part argument. You should draw on evidence (class readings, explore readings, and your experience) to make an argument about data storytelling. This could be about the biggest challenges or most important considerations of data storytelling, your assessment of whether data storytelling is the future of communications, or something else that attempts to answer the question “so what?”
- 600 - 900 words
- Can include images and figures
- MLA Format (double-spaced, 12-pt font, 1-inch margins, page numbers, parenthetical citations, Works Cited page)