FIT2079 Information graphics - Semester 2, 2013

This unit presents a diverse range of existing techniques for presenting information visually including graphs, tables, charts, diagrams, maps, time series, animations, mechanical devices and interactive software visualisations in two and three dimensions. It details the underlying principles and motivations that govern the design and implementation of these techniques in different disciplines. The unit offers students an opportunity to critically assess visual displays produced by their peers and those produced by experts in a range of domains. It also provides an opportunity for students to build upon their knowledge in their home discipline by generating visual displays of direct relevance to their study in these areas. The unit provides a strong foundation upon which students can build when interpreting and devising visual displays of information in their future studies and careers. Some of the material relies on a basic knowledge of statistics (mean, standard deviation, median) and a basic knowledge of geometry.

Mode of Delivery

Clayton (Day)

Contact Hours

2 hrs lectures/wk, 2 hrs laboratories/wk

Workload requirements

Students will be expected to spend a total of 12 hours per week during semester on this unit.

This consists of 4 hours a week in a studio-based teaching laboratory and up to an additional 8 hours for completing lab and project work, private study and revision.

Unit Relationships

Prerequisites

Completion of 24 points at first year.

Chief Examiner

Campus Lecturer

Academic Overview

Learning Outcomes

At the completion of this unit students will have:

• a familiarity with different approaches to presenting information visually as they have appeared throughout history and in different cultures;
• an appreciation of the application of visual media to present information in a range of academic disciplines and in the public sphere;
• a basic ability to select and apply appropriate types of visualisation and presentation;
• an ability to devise new techniques for the visual presentation of information in a discipline with which they are familiar;
• an ability to critically analyse visual information displays and data visualisations;
• an understanding of the advantages, drawbacks and pitfalls of the visual presentation of information as compared to the presentation of ideas using other media;
• an ability to engage in technical discussions on the merits of different visualisations and information displays.

Unit Schedule

Week	Activities	Assessment
0		No formal assessment or activities are undertaken in week 0
1	Introduction, origins of info graphics	Class room participation
2	Visualising the visible and the invisible	Class room participation
3	Information visualisation and GIS	Class room participation
4	Visual perception	Negotiate information visualisation project domain
5	Designing effective information graphics	Class room participation
6	Creating visualisations with R I	1st short presentation of project
7	Interactive visualisation on the web (D3)	Class room participation
8	Creating visualisations with R II	Class room participation
9	Creating visualisations with R III	Class room participation
10	Scientific and engineering visualisation	Class room participation
11	Business analytics	2nd short presentation for project
12	Accessible graphics, revision	Project report due
	SWOT VAC	No formal assessment is undertaken in SWOT VAC
	Examination period	LINK to Assessment Policy: http://policy.monash.edu.au/policy-bank/ academic/education/assessment/ assessment-in-coursework-policy.html

*Unit Schedule details will be maintained and communicated to you via your learning system.

Assessment Summary

Examination (2 hours): 60%; In-semester assessment: 40%

Assessment Task	Value	Due Date
Information Visualisation Project	30% (1st presentation 5%, design & implementation 10%, 2nd presentation 5%, report 10%) .	1st presentation Week 6; 2nd presentation Week 11; Report Week 12.
Classroom Contribution	10%	In various weeks throughout the semester
Examination 1	60%	To be advised

Teaching Approach

Studio teaching

Assessment Requirements

Assessment Policy

Faculty Policy - Unit Assessment Hurdles (http://www.infotech.monash.edu.au/resources/staff/edgov/policies/assessment-examinations/unit-assessment-hurdles.html)

Academic Integrity - Please see the Demystifying Citing and Referencing tutorial at http://lib.monash.edu/tutorials/citing/

Assessment Tasks

Participation

Students will be expected to participate in discussions as part of their classroom contribution assessment.

• Assessment task 1

  Title:

  Information Visualisation Project

  Description:

  In this assignment you are to design and implement an information visualization for a domain area of your choice. The domain area must be approved by the lecturer. The assignment has three main parts:

  1. Critically review the kinds of information graphics and visualisations currently being used in that and related domains and give a short 5-10 minute presentation to the class on the problem domain and current visualisations. 
  2. Design an information visualisation for the domain that you think is better than current approaches and implement this using either R or D3. Give a short 5-10 minute presentation to the class on your solution.
  3.  Write a research report of approximately 3000 words summarising your problem domain, critical review of current approaches and your solution arguing why it is an effective visualisation.

  Weighting:

  30% (1st presentation 5%, design & implementation 10%, 2nd presentation 5%, report 10%) .

  Criteria for assessment:

  Students will be assessed on a number of criteria:

  • Comprehensiveness and quality of the critical review of related visualisations
  • Effective use of information visualisation principles to design their visualisation
  • Correctness and quality of their implementation
  • Quality of the written and oral presentations

  Due date:

  1st presentation Week 6; 2nd presentation Week 11; Report Week 12.

  Remarks:

  The project application domain for each student will be decided in Week 4 based on the interests and background of the student and negotiation with the lecturer.

• Assessment task 2

  Title:

  Classroom Contribution

  Description:

  Students will be expected to bring examples of information visualisations to the class and critically review them. They will also be expected to participate in classroom discussions.

  Weighting:

  10%

  Criteria for assessment:

  Classroom contribution will be assessed on a number of criteria:

  • Application of Information Visualisation principles taught in the unit
  • Quality of the critical analysis conducted 
  • Responding to other students comments in a constructive manner 
  • Frequency of contribution

  Due date:

  In various weeks throughout the semester

Examinations

• Examination 1

  Weighting:

  60%

  Length:

  2 hours

  Type (open/closed book):

  Closed book

  Electronic devices allowed in the exam:

  None

Learning resources

Feedback to you

• Informal feedback on progress in labs/tutes
• Graded assignments with comments

Extensions and penalties

Returning assignments

Resubmission of assignments

Assignments cannot be submitted.

Assignment submission

Online submission

If Electronic Submission has been approved for your unit, please submit your work via the learning system for this unit, which you can access via links in the my.monash portal.

Examination material or equipment

Please see unit website.

Other Information

Policies

Graduate Attributes Policy

Student services

Monash University Library

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