Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau from Coursera

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Syllabus

About this Specialization and Course

The Coursera Specialization: Excel to MySQL: Analytic Techniques for Business, is about how 'Big Data' interacts with business, and how to use data analytics to create value for businesses. This specialization consists of four courses and a final Capstone Project, where you will apply your skills to a real-world business process. You will learn to perform sophisticated data-analysis functions using powerful software tools such as Microsoft Excel, Tableau, and MySQL. To learn more, watch the video and review the specialization overview document we provided.

In the third course of the specialization: Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau, you will learn how to communicate business-relevant implications of data analyses.

Specifically, you will:

craft the right questions to ensure your analysis projects succeed;
leverage questions to design logical and structured analysis plans;
create the most important graphs used in business analysis and transform data in Tableau;
design business dashboards with Tableau;
tell stories with data;
design effective slide presentations to showcase your data story; and
deliver compelling business presentations.

By the end of this course, you will know how to structure your data analysis projects to ensure the fruits of your hard labor yield results for your stakeholders. You will also know how to streamline your analyses and highlight their implications efficiently using visualizations in Tableau, the most popular visualization program in the business world. Using other Tableau features, you will be able to make effective visualizations that harness the human brain’s innate perceptual and cognitive tendencies to convey conclusions directly and clearly. Finally, you will be practiced in designing and persuasively presenting business “data stories” that use these visualizations, capitalizing on business-tested methods and design principles by completing a final peer assessed project recommending a business process change.

To get started, please begin with the video 'About This Specialization.'

I hope you enjoy this week's materials!

Craft the right questions to ensure your analysis projects succeed
Leverage questions to design logical and structured analysis plans

Remember to refer back to the Additional Resources reading: Identifying and Eliciting Information from Stakeholders). In addition, you will complete a graded quiz.

As always, if you have any questions, post them to the Discussions.

To get started, please begin with the video “Tips for Becoming a Data Analyst.”

I hope you enjoy this week's materials!

By the end of this week, you will be able to:

Create the most important graphs used in business analysis and transform data in Tableau

Once you have watched the "Why Tableau" video, and installed the software, remember to refer back to the Salary Data Set and to the Dognition Data Set resources posted on the course site this week. You will also complete a graded quiz at the end of the week.

As always, if you have any questions, post them to the Discussions.

To get started, please begin with the video “Use Data Visualization to Drive Your Analysis" and then review the "Written Instructions to install Tableau Desktop.

I hope you enjoy this week's materials! .

Write calculations and equations in Tableau
Publish online business dashboards with Tableau.

Remember to refer to the additional resources for this week: “Examples of Tableau Dashboards and Stories” and "Using Tableau Dashboards When You Don't Have To."

You will also complete a graded quiz.

As always, if you have any questions, post them to the Discussions.

To get started, please begin with the video “Customizing and Sharing New Data in Tableau.”

I hope you enjoy this week's materials!

By the end of this week, you will be able to:

Tell stories with data
Design effective slide presentations to showcase your data story, and
Deliver compelling business presentations

Remember to refer back to the Study Guide: Designing and Delivering Effective Presentations. You will also complete a graded quiz.

As always, if you have any questions, post them to the Discussions.

To get started, please begin with the video “Using Visualization to Influence Business Decisions.”

I hope you enjoy this week's materials!

Demonstrated understanding the Tableau functions discussed in this course
Adapting visualizations to make them maximally communicative
Storyboarding skills
Translating your story into a presentation ready for the boardroom
Effective presentation delivery
Evaluating business presentations

Remember to refer to the Background Information for Peer Review Assignment on the course web site before you begin. This final course project is a comprehensive assessment covering all of the course material and will take approximately 6-8 hours to complete.

As always, if you have any questions, post them to the Discussions. Thank you for your contributions to this final project!

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Covers data visualization and communication using Tableau, a popular business tool

Develops skills in data analysis and presentation for non-technical audiences

Suitable for aspiring business data analysts seeking to enhance their communication skills

Taught by Daniel Egger and Jana Schaich Borg, recognized experts in data analysis

Emphasizes practical applications and industry-tested methods

Requires access to Tableau software, which may incur additional costs

Reviews summary

Practical tableau and data communication

According to learners, this course offers a solid foundation in using Tableau for data visualization and is particularly strong in teaching business communication skills around data. Many found the hands-on exercises in Tableau to be highly practical and beneficial for acquiring technical skills. A frequently praised aspect is the course's focus on data storytelling and crafting effective presentations, which helps bridge the gap between analysis and actionable insights. Some reviewers noted that the Tableau content might not be fully updated to the absolute latest versions, leading to minor navigation differences. Additionally, while the final presentation project is seen as a valuable capstone, the peer review process quality was sometimes cited as inconsistent. Overall, it is considered a very useful course, especially for those new to Tableau who need to communicate data findings professionally.

Suitable for those new to Tableau.

"This course is a great starting point for learning Tableau with no prior experience required."

"The pace was manageable even for someone completely new to data visualization tools."

"It gently introduces concepts before diving into the software, which I found helpful."

Valuable capstone project experience.

"The final project ties everything together well and provides great practice for real-world presentations."

"Presenting my data story felt like a realistic simulation of a business scenario."

"While challenging, the project solidified my understanding and ability to communicate effectively."

Provides practical skills using Tableau taught.

"The hands-on exercises are practical and mirror real-world tasks, giving a good grasp of Tableau basics."

"I really appreciated the structured labs that walked through creating visualizations step-by-step."

"Got a good grip on basic Tableau functions and building dashboards through the practice problems."

Strong emphasis on communicating insights.

"The focus on telling a story with data is unique and very helpful for presenting findings."

"Learned how to translate complex data into a narrative that resonates with a business audience."

"The communication and storytelling modules are invaluable additions to the technical skills."

Course may use older Tableau version.

"Some parts of the course seem to use an older version of Tableau Desktop, requiring slight adjustments."

"Needed to figure out how to do a few things in the latest Tableau version that were shown differently."

"The core concepts are still relevant, but expect minor differences if using the newest Tableau software."

Inconsistent feedback from peers.

"The quality of peer reviews for assignments varied significantly, making some feedback less useful."

"I received conflicting advice from different reviewers on the same submission."

"Wish there was a stronger mechanism for ensuring consistent and constructive peer feedback."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau with these activities:

Data Visualization Project

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Apply your Tableau skills to a real-world data analysis project.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Choose a dataset and define your research question
Clean and prepare the data
Create interactive data visualizations using Tableau
Write a report that summarizes your findings

Read 'The Data Analysis Handbook'

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Reinforce your understanding of data analysis concepts and enhance your skills in data visualization.

View The Art of Insight: How Great Visualization... on Amazon

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Read the book thoroughly, taking notes and highlighting key concepts.
Apply the concepts discussed in the book to practical data analysis projects.

Explore Tableau tutorials and documentation

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Supplement learning by exploring additional resources and tutorials on Tableau.

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Access the Tableau Help Center
Review tutorials and documentation
Use the Tableau Community Forum

15 other activities

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Review Data Visualization with Tableau

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Review Tableau concepts and techniques to strengthen your ability to create effective and engaging data visualizations.

View #MakeoverMonday: Improving How We Visualize and... on Amazon

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Read Chapter 1: Introduction to Tableau
Read Chapter 2: Connecting to and Preparing Data
Complete the hands-on exercises in Chapters 1-2

Practice Tableau Calculations

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Improve your proficiency in performing calculations and transformations within Tableau.

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Review the Tableau documentation on calculations
Complete the Tableau practice exercises on calculations
Create your own custom calculations based on a given dataset

Practice Tableau skills with exercises

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Reinforce skills in using Tableau by completing exercises with real-world datasets.

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Load a dataset into Tableau Desktop
Create different types of visualizations (e.g., bar charts, scatter plots, heat maps)
Apply filters and sort data
Use Tableau to create interactive dashboards

Review and discuss Tableau visualizations

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Enhance understanding of Tableau visualizations by sharing and discussing them with peers.

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Gather a group of peers
Share and present Tableau visualizations
Provide and receive feedback on the visualizations
Discuss best practices for creating effective visualizations

Follow Tableau Tutorials

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Gain hands-on experience with Tableau and improve your proficiency in creating data visualizations.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Access Tableau's online tutorials and choose those relevant to your skill level.
Follow the instructions and complete the exercises provided in the tutorials.

Join a Tableau Study Group

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Enhance your learning experience by collaborating and sharing knowledge with other Tableau enthusiasts.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Find or create a study group with other learners or professionals interested in Tableau.
Meet regularly to discuss Tableau concepts, share tips, and work on projects together.

Peer Review Tableau Dashboards

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Gain valuable feedback and insights on your Tableau dashboards by sharing them with peers for review.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Present your Tableau dashboard to a peer
Receive constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement
Incorporate feedback into your dashboard

Tableau Practice Exercises

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Strengthen your Tableau skills through regular practice and repetition.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Find online or offline Tableau practice exercises.
Work through the exercises, creating visualizations and solving data analysis problems.

Volunteer at a Data-Driven Organization

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Gain practical experience in data analysis and visualization by volunteering your skills.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Research non-profit organizations or companies that rely on data analysis for decision-making.
Reach out to these organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities.

Design a Tableau Dashboard

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Gain hands-on experience in designing and developing interactive data dashboards using Tableau.

Browse courses on Data Visualization

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Identify a real-world business dataset
Create a Tableau dashboard that visualizes key metrics and insights from the dataset
Share your dashboard with others for feedback

Create a Tableau dashboard for a business case

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Apply Tableau skills to a real-world business scenario by creating a dashboard that communicates data insights.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Identify a business question or problem
Gather and analyze relevant data
Design and build the Tableau dashboard
Present and communicate the dashboard findings

Create a video tutorial on a Tableau feature

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Deepen understanding of Tableau by creating a video tutorial that explains a specific feature or technique.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Choose a Tableau feature or technique
Plan and write the video script
Record and edit the video tutorial
Share the video tutorial online

Explore Tableau's Advanced Features

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Expand your knowledge of Tableau's advanced capabilities to enhance your data analysis and storytelling skills.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Watch Tableau tutorials on advanced visualization techniques
Experiment with different chart types and customization options
Create interactive visualizations that leverage Tableau's advanced features

Create Tableau Dashboards

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Enhance your understanding of Tableau's capabilities and apply your skills to real-world data.

Browse courses on Tableau

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Identify a dataset you want to analyze and visualize.
Create a Tableau dashboard that effectively communicates the insights you derive from the data.

Develop a Business Presentation

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Practice presenting your data analysis findings effectively to a business audience.

Browse courses on Data Presentation

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Identify your key takeaways and target audience
Create a visually appealing presentation using Tableau visualizations
Practice and refine your presentation skills before delivering it

Career center

Learners who complete Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Data Visualization Specialist

Data Visualization Specialists create visual representations of data. They use charts, graphs, and other visuals to help businesses understand their data. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Data Visualization Specialist. You will learn how to create visual representations of data, and how to use them to help businesses understand their data.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Visualization Specialist

Data Analyst

Data Analysts use data to help businesses make better decisions. They collect, analyze, and interpret data to identify trends and patterns. They then present their findings to decision-makers in a clear and concise way. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Data Analyst. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to present your findings in a way that is easy to understand.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Analyst

Data Engineer

Data Engineers design and build the systems that store and process data. They work with data scientists and other data professionals to ensure that data is available and accessible. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Data Engineer. You will learn how to design and build data systems, and how to work with data scientists and other data professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Data Engineer

Operations Research Analyst

Operations Research Analysts use data to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of business operations. They use mathematical and statistical models to identify and solve problems in a variety of areas, such as supply chain management, logistics, and healthcare. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Operations Research Analyst. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement mathematical and statistical models.

See salaries and explore the career path for Operations Research Analyst

Business Analyst

Business Analysts help businesses improve their performance by identifying and solving problems. They use data and analysis to understand the needs of the business and its customers. They then develop and implement solutions that can help the business achieve its goals. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Business Analyst. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement solutions.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software applications. They work with data scientists and other data professionals to develop software that can collect, analyze, and interpret data. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Software Engineer. You will learn how to design, develop, and maintain software applications, and how to work with data scientists and other data professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Engineer

Statistician

Statisticians use data to collect, analyze, interpret, and present data. They use statistical methods to draw conclusions about the world around us. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Statistician. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to draw conclusions about the world around us.

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Actuary

Actuaries use data to assess and manage financial risk. They use mathematical and statistical models to calculate the probability of future events, such as death, disability, and retirement. This information is used to set insurance premiums and to develop financial products. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Actuary. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement mathematical and statistical models.

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Data Scientist

Data Scientists use data to solve complex problems. They develop and implement statistical and machine learning models to identify trends and patterns in data. They then use these models to make predictions and recommendations. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Data Scientist. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement statistical and machine learning models.

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User Experience (UX) Designer

User Experience (UX) Designers design and develop the user interface for websites and other applications. They work with data scientists and other data professionals to ensure that applications are easy to use and understand. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful UX Designer. You will learn how to design and develop user interfaces, and how to work with data scientists and other data professionals.

See salaries and explore the career path for User Experience (UX) Designer

Market Researcher

Market Researchers collect and analyze data about consumers and markets. They use this data to help businesses understand the needs of their customers and to develop products and services that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Market Researcher. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement marketing campaigns.

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Marketing Manager

Marketing Managers develop and implement marketing campaigns. They work with data scientists and other data professionals to understand the target market and to develop campaigns that reach that market. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Marketing Manager. You will learn how to develop and implement marketing campaigns, and how to work with data scientists and other data professionals.

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Product Manager

Product Managers develop and manage the product roadmap for a company. They work with data scientists and other data professionals to understand the needs of the market and to develop products that meet those needs. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Product Manager. You will learn how to develop and manage a product roadmap, and how to work with data scientists and other data professionals.

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Management Consultant

Management Consultants help businesses improve their performance by identifying and solving problems. They use data and analysis to understand the needs of the business and its customers. They then develop and implement solutions that can help the business achieve its goals. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Management Consultant. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to develop and implement solutions.

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Financial Analyst

Financial Analysts use data to evaluate the financial performance of companies. They use this data to make recommendations about investments and other financial decisions. This course can help you develop the skills you need to become a successful Financial Analyst. You will learn how to collect, analyze, and interpret data, and how to make recommendations about investments.

See salaries and explore the career path for Financial Analyst