BUSAN 101 : Data Visualisation Essentials

Business and Economics

2025 Semester Two (1255) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Master the art of data visualisation. Students will be empowered with the practical skills and insights needed to succeed in data visualisation for impactful communication. Through hands-on learning, participants will perfect the skill of selecting the right chart types, crafting visually compelling data representations, and navigating common pitfalls with finesse.

Course Overview

BUSAN 101 is designed to immerse students in the fundamentals of data visualisation, blending theory with extensive hands-on practice. The course empowers students to make data insights compelling and accessible through thoughtful chart selection and polished design. Structured around collaborative and peer-supported learning, it encourages students to actively engage with one another, sharing feedback and refining skills. Through this interactive approach, students not only master the technical aspects of visualisation but also learn to critique and improve on existing visual narratives, preparing them to communicate data with precision and impact.

Course Requirements

Restriction: BUSAN 301

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Commerce

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Explain and apply foundational principles of data visualisation, including design principles and appropriate chart selection. (Capability 3)
  2. Evaluate, critique, and suggest improvements to visual representations of data. (Capability 4)
  3. Create data visualisations from provided datasets, using appropriate tools, that deliver compelling narratives to specified audiences. (Capability 5)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Weekly Assignments 30% Individual Coursework
Test 20% Individual Test
Project 30% Group Coursework
Weekly Participation 20% Peer Coursework
Assessment Type Learning Outcome Addressed
1 2 3
Weekly Assignments
Test
Project
Weekly Participation

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course, and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1-hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 9 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is required at scheduled activities to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities will not be available as recordings.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

The textbook for this course is:
Storytelling with data: a data visualization guide for business professionals
Author: Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic
Date: 2015
Publisher: Wiley
Note that a downloadable digital version of this book is available for free via the University library.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

This is the first iteration of the course so feedback will be especially important.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 18/11/2024 10:01 a.m.