This post will take around 100 seconds to read.
My first MOOC has turned out to be not quite as expected – see #sna posts over on my CPD blog – but at least that means I’ve a smidgen of time for my second MOOC.
Introduction to infographics and data visualisation (needs a #) is hosted by the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas and run by Alberto Cairo (@albertocairo). 2000 enrolled from 109 countries (vs 55K for #SNAc), which seems massive enough. I listened to Alberto talking to the Data Stories boys and am slightly ruffled by the mention of R, but we’ll see how it goes.
Message in my inbox Sunday morning sets out the programme for week 1:
- read syllabus (PDF; check) and watch intro video (should have done this already…)
- in week 3 ie week beg 11 Nov: install trial version of Adobe Illustrator for tutorials and exercises (files should be uploaded to Flickr, Scribd, Dropbox and linked); can also use Tableau, Excel, Illustrator, R, Processing, or any other software package or programming language…splendid, may be challenging on a netbook
- read chapters 1 (intro) and 2 from Alberto’s book, The Functional Art (downloaded, n pages)
- watch lecture 1: Visualising information (in seven parts; videos also on Vimeo)
- by 4 Nov discuss examples of infographics and visualisations – see mail for details; aims to create an online community, hey now! this is rather different from #SNAc. Has to be a “meaningful, well thought contribution” and at least 500 words long. Not entirely sure about mandating discussion but we shall see.
- by 4 Nov complete quiz
- explore forums and student lounge
What about blogging about the course – any credit for that? : p I picked up on it from Ideas Illustrated, who looks rather at the opposite end of the scale from me, and is blogging here.
States that six hours of work required per week, that feels like quite a commitment. But hey! It’s first day enthusiasm so let’s go…