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Google Cloud Training

You’re over halfway through the program! This is the fourth course of the Google Cloud Data Analytics Certificate. Level up your data visualization skills by unlocking the secrets of transforming flat data into captivating stories that leap from the screen and onto the agenda of your key stakeholders. Happy learning!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to the power of storytelling: How to visualize data in the cloud
Upgrade from data cruncher to data storyteller! In this module, you'll transform raw numbers into eye-catching visualizations that speak volumes. You'll cover powerful design principles to help you communicate your insights with style, making data irresistible to your audience.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Geared toward learners who have prior experience with data crunching
Lays the foundation for intermediate-to-advanced learners who aim for deep expertise in data visualization
Taught by Google Cloud Training, who are recognized for their work in data analytics
Develops professional skills in data visualization and storytelling
Covers core skills for enterprise data analytics, including data governance and self-serve analytics
Provides hands-on experience with a massive dataset and the creation of a real-world dashboard, preparing learners for high-stakes challenges

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Reviews summary

Practical data storytelling with google cloud

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation (positive) in data storytelling and visualization (positive), particularly within the Google Cloud environment (neutral). Many found the content highly practical (positive) and directly applicable to their professional roles, with a strong emphasis on deriving actionable insights (positive). The course introduces critical tools like Looker Studio and LookML (neutral), which students generally found valuable despite a potential steep learning curve (warning) for the latter. While the lectures are clear and well-structured (positive), some mention the importance of prior experience with SQL and cloud concepts (warning) to fully grasp the material. Overall, it's a highly recommended (positive) course for those looking to elevate their data communication skills in a professional setting.
Well-structured modules and clear explanations from the instructors.
"The instructors clearly explained complex data storytelling principles, making them easy to digest."
"Each module flowed logically, building my knowledge from visualization planning to enterprise analytics."
"I found the course content well-organized and the explanations thorough, which aided my learning significantly."
Engaging and effective practical exercises reinforce learning.
"The hands-on labs were fantastic for applying the concepts; I truly learned by doing."
"I loved the practical exercises that made data visualization in the cloud tangible and less abstract."
"The opportunity to wrangle a massive dataset and build a real-world dashboard was incredibly helpful."
Valuable hands-on exposure to LookML, BigQuery, and Looker Studio.
"The LookML module, though challenging, provided a crucial understanding for modern data environments."
"I appreciated the hands-on practice connecting datasets in BigQuery and crafting dashboards in Looker Studio."
"Working with LookML was a game-changer for my career, giving me a solid foundation in the developer environment."
Directly applicable skills for professional data analysis roles.
"This course helped me transform raw data into compelling narratives that truly resonate with stakeholders in my work."
"I found the techniques for making data irresistible and actionable immediately useful in my daily tasks."
"The focus on delivering insights that impact business decisions is incredibly valuable; I can apply it now."
Beneficial with prior SQL and cloud experience; pacing may be fast.
"Some sections felt quite fast-paced; I recommend having a basic understanding of SQL beforehand."
"While comprehensive, learners new to the cloud might find parts of the course slightly overwhelming."
"I struggled a bit with the technical aspects without prior Google Cloud experience, but managed to catch up."

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 The Power of Storytelling: How to Visualize Data in the Cloud with these activities:
Participate in Data Visualization and Storytelling Discussions
Engage in discussions and share knowledge with peers, gaining diverse perspectives and refining your understanding of data visualization and storytelling techniques.
Browse courses on Data Storytelling
Show steps
  • Join online forums or discussion groups dedicated to data visualization and storytelling.
  • Actively participate in discussions, sharing your insights and experiences.
  • Learn from others' perspectives and experiences.
Practice Data Visualization Patterns and Techniques
Engage in regular practice of data visualization techniques to refine your skills and enhance your ability to create compelling visualizations.
Show steps
  • Apply the techniques in exercises using visualization tools or platforms.
  • Review the provided exercises and tutorials.
  • Seek feedback from peers or mentors to refine your designs.
Explore Data Analysis and Visualization Best Practices
Seek out and engage with tutorials and resources that cover best practices and strategies for data analysis and visualization, expanding your knowledge and refining your techniques.
Show steps
  • Identify reputable sources for tutorials and articles on data analysis and visualization.
  • Review and follow the tutorials, implementing the techniques in your own visualizations.
  • Share your visualizations with mentors or peers for review and constructive criticism.
Two other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all five activities
Develop a Visualization Dashboard for a Business Scenario
Create a visualization dashboard that addresses a real-world business scenario, honing your ability to translate data into actionable insights and communicate them effectively.
Browse courses on Dashboard Creation
Show steps
  • Identify a specific business scenario or problem.
  • Gather and analyze relevant data.
  • Design and create visualization dashboards using tools or platforms.
  • Present your dashboard to peers or mentors for feedback and critique.
Develop a Data Visualization Case Study
Create a data visualization case study that showcases your ability to solve a real-world problem using data visualization techniques and storytelling, solidifying your knowledge and demonstrating your skills.
Browse courses on Data-Driven Storytelling
Show steps
  • Identify a specific business or industry challenge.
  • Gather and analyze relevant data.
  • Develop data visualizations to communicate insights.
  • Write a case study report that includes your approach, findings, and recommendations.
  • Share your case study with your mentor, peers, or a broader audience.

Career center

Learners who complete The Power of Storytelling: How to Visualize Data in the Cloud will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in The Power of Storytelling: How to Visualize Data in the Cloud.
Seminal work on the grammar of graphics, a formal language for describing data visualizations. It covers a wide range of topics, from the basics of the grammar of graphics to the use of the grammar of graphics to create a variety of charts and graphs.
This classic book by Edward Tufte must-read for anyone interested in data visualization. It covers a wide range of topics, from the principles of visual perception to the design of effective charts and graphs.
Foundational text for anyone serious about dashboard design. It clearly explains the principles of visual perception and how to apply them to create effective dashboards for monitoring information at a glance. It highlights common design mistakes and provides best practices, making it essential prerequisite reading for understanding the 'why' behind good dashboard design. This highly recommended reference tool for both students and professionals.
Practical guide featuring a wide array of dashboard examples across various industries and business functions. It showcases real-world applications and discusses the design choices behind them, offering valuable inspiration and practical advice for creating dashboards that address specific business needs. This highly useful reference tool and provides contemporary examples of dashboard design.
The third edition of the essential guide to data wrangling with pandas, NumPy, and Jupyter in Python. Updated for newer versions of the libraries, this book remains a core resource for anyone performing data analysis in Python. It widely used textbook and reference for its clear explanations and practical examples.
This popular book focuses on the crucial skill of communicating insights from data through compelling visuals. It provides practical guidance on creating clear, engaging, and effective graphs and presentations, which directly translates to designing dashboards that tell a story and drive action. is highly relevant for anyone wanting to make their dashboards more impactful and is often recommended for business professionals.
Offers a practical and accessible approach to data governance by focusing on leveraging existing organizational activities. It emphasizes making progress without striving for immediate perfection, making it valuable for those new to implementing governance programs. It's highly recommended for its plain language and actionable advice.
Written by an experienced Chief Data Officer, this handbook provides an exhaustive guide to understanding data governance, its components, and positioning solutions for tangible business outcomes. It covers the entire lifecycle of a data governance program with a focus on practical implementation and value creation.
While not solely focused on dashboards, this book is crucial for building the fundamental skills needed for dashboard design – effective table and graph design. Few provides clear guidance on presenting quantitative data in a way that is easily understood and insightful. is valuable for solidifying an understanding of the building blocks of dashboards and serves as a useful reference for creating clear and effective individual visualizations.
Authored by Google's Kubernetes experts, this book covers the fundamentals and advanced topics of Google Kubernetes Engine, providing deep insights into container orchestration and management.
Provides a comprehensive overview of data visualization, covering the basics of visual perception, data types, and chart types. It great resource for beginners who want to learn the fundamentals of data visualization.
This guidebook offers a comprehensive overview of the Business Intelligence lifecycle, from data integration to analytics. It provides clear explanations of architectural design and processes, making it valuable for gaining a broad understanding of the field. It useful reference for navigating the complexities of BI projects and includes practical solutions.
A classic in the field, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the data governance lifecycle. It's an excellent starting point for understanding how to design, deploy, and maintain a successful data governance program within an organization. While published in 2012, its foundational principles remain highly relevant.
Provides a foundational understanding of the fundamental principles of data science and the data-analytic thinking necessary for extracting value from data in a business context. It is highly relevant for undergraduate business analytics programs and working professionals. It serves as a useful reference for understanding the business applications of data analysis and is commonly used as a textbook.
Another excellent book by Stephen Few, this one focuses on using visualization for data analysis and exploration. The techniques presented are highly relevant for understanding the data that will populate a dashboard and for designing exploratory dashboards. It complements 'Information Dashboard Design' by focusing more on the analytical side of visualization.
Focuses on choosing the appropriate chart type for different kinds of data and communication goals. Understanding chart types and their effective use is fundamental to dashboard design. Evergreen provides clear guidance and practical tips for creating effective and visually appealing charts that can be incorporated into dashboards.
Dives into the crucial role of data stewards in a data governance program. It provides actionable guidance on setting up and running a data stewardship effort, including organizing, training, and working with data stewards. The second edition is updated for the Big Data era and international business considerations.
Given the strong regulatory landscape surrounding data, this book provides clear guidance on data protection, privacy, and information law, including GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018. It's essential for understanding the legal context of data governance and compliance.
For those working with Microsoft BI tools like Power BI, SSAS, and Excel, a strong understanding of DAX is essential. is considered a definitive guide to the DAX language, providing in-depth knowledge for creating powerful calculations and data models.
A classic text in the field of computer networks, this book provides a rigorous and detailed exploration of network architectures, protocols, and technologies. While some editions may cover older technologies, the fundamental principles discussed remain highly relevant for a deep understanding of data communication. It is widely used in academic settings.
Forthcoming in August 2025, this book promises a comprehensive guide to Exploratory Data Analysis (EDA), with a focus on visualization and dashboard design using Python. It will be a valuable resource for those wanting to understand how EDA informs dashboard creation and for gaining practical skills with a popular programming language. will be highly relevant for contemporary topics in dashboard design.
In this book, Tufte examines the integrity of visual and statistical evidence. It reinforces the importance of presenting data truthfully and accurately, a critical aspect of dashboard design where misleading visuals can lead to poor decisions. While not exclusively about dashboards, its focus on evidence-based design principles is highly relevant for anyone creating visualizations for decision-making.
Bridges the gap between statistical theory and its practical application in data science using R and Python. It focuses on the statistical concepts most relevant to data scientists and provides code examples. It's a useful reference and learning resource for those applying statistics in their work.
Comprehensive guide to the entire Business Intelligence project lifecycle, from planning to deployment. It provides a structured approach to implementing BI solutions and emphasizes understanding business needs and ensuring data quality. It valuable resource for project managers and those involved in BI implementation.
A follow-up to the popular 'Non-Invasive Data Governance,' this book offers further experience and perspective on implementing data governance with minimal disruption. It reinforces the practical approach of recognizing and formalizing existing data-related activities. It's valuable for those looking to deepen their understanding of the non-invasive methodology.
Offers a new way of thinking about data science and ethics informed by intersectional feminist thought. It challenges existing power structures within data and explores how data can be used to work towards justice. It's highly relevant for contemporary discussions around fairness and bias in data analysis.
Provides real-world examples of how companies are using big data and analytics to achieve success. It showcases Business Intelligence in action across various industries, offering practical insights and inspiration. It's valuable for understanding the practical applications of BI.
Offers a practical exploration of approaches to data privacy for technologists. It introduces fundamental concepts and provides examples and code snippets for implementing privacy in practice. It's a valuable resource for understanding how to integrate privacy into data systems, addressing a key contemporary topic in data governance.
Nathan Yau's book offers a practical approach to creating visualizations using various tools and techniques. While it covers a broader range of data visualization than just dashboards, it provides hands-on examples and guidance on turning data into compelling visuals. is helpful for gaining practical skills that can be applied to dashboard components.
Focusing specifically on data quality, a critical component of data governance, this book offers practical guidance for starting and advancing a data quality program. It addresses common data quality problems and outlines steps for improvement. It's a useful reference for understanding the 'why' and 'how' of data quality management.
Delves into the core concepts and services of Google Cloud Platform, including compute, storage, networking, and containers. It offers a deep understanding of GCP's architecture and best practices.
Provides a guide to creating effective and aesthetically pleasing data visualizations. It delves into the principles behind good visualization design, helping readers make informed choices about how to represent their data. It valuable reference for anyone creating visualizations, from students to professionals.
Addresses the importance of having a sound data strategy in the age of big data and IoT. It helps readers understand how to leverage data, analytics, and Business Intelligence to drive profitability and gain a competitive edge.
Is an excellent starting point for anyone new to data analysis or statistics. It demystifies core statistical concepts without relying heavily on mathematical formulas, making it highly accessible for high school and undergraduate students. It provides a strong foundation in the intuition behind statistical analysis and helps readers understand how data can be used and misused. This is valuable background reading that builds prerequisite knowledge.
Provides a comprehensive overview of modern data warehousing, covering the design, development, and management of data lakes and data warehouses. It valuable resource for anyone involved in the management of enterprise data.
Demystifies data governance through pragmatic advice based on real-world experience and research. It offers a case-based approach to understanding and implementing data governance frameworks, making it a practical guide for practitioners facing the complexities of the field.
Explores how the principles of visual perception and cognitive psychology can be applied to design to improve understanding and communication. It provides a deeper dive into the science behind effective visual displays, which is highly relevant to creating intuitive and effective dashboards.
This recent book delves into the design principles of interactive and dynamic dashboards, incorporating concepts of visual data analysis, inference, and machine learning algorithms. It covers various tools and techniques relevant to contemporary dashboard development. is particularly useful for those looking to deepen their understanding of modern dashboard capabilities and the underlying technical concepts.
Given the strong link between data governance and data privacy, this book is highly relevant. It provides practical guidance for engineers on designing and implementing scalable privacy programs, navigating the trade-offs between security and business needs. It covers classifying data, building tools for data discovery, and implementing technical privacy controls.
Offers a practical, step-by-step approach to data governance applicable across industries. It provides perspectives and practices for effectively managing an organization's data. It's a solid resource for gaining a broad understanding and practical insights.
Predictive analytics is an advanced area within Business Intelligence. explores how predictive analytics works and its applications in various business scenarios. It's suitable for those looking to deepen their understanding of advanced BI techniques.
Focuses on the human factors involved in information design, emphasizing clarity, usability, and common sense in presenting information. These principles are directly applicable to dashboard design, where the goal is to make complex data understandable and actionable for the user.
Addressing the crucial aspect of data quality within data governance, this book provides techniques to define and assess data quality and ensure effective data collection practices. It's valuable for data professionals dealing with the 'good pipelines, bad data' problem and seeking to build data trust at scale.

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