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2024　Essence of Humanities and Social Sciences10:Science Visualization

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Academic unit or major
Humanities and social science courses
Instructor(s)
Haragi Makiko 
Class Format
Lecture     
Media-enhanced courses
Day/Period(Room No.)
-
Group
-
Course number
LAH.S410
Credits
1
Academic year
2024
Offered quarter
3Q
Syllabus updated
2024/3/14
Lecture notes updated
-
Language used
Japanese
Access Index

Course description and aims

This course deals with information design techniques for communicating the results of one's research activities (especially numerical information) to others clearly and precisely. Through the course, students are expected to be able to boost their thinking and output capacity for information design.

These days, with the increase in non-textual communication, such as images and video, using and creating appropriate visual information is becoming an essential way of communication.
In particular, the visualization of information, known as "Information Graphics (IGs)", has attracted much attention in recent years as one of the means of it. IGs were originally developed to communicate statistical data in an easy-to-understand way for laypersons. Using some tips on how to make and use them, understand the parts of visual communication.

This course will be conducted through a bunch of group discussions to analyze some visuals and make your own words what you can feel from visuals.
At the end of this course, students are expected to acquire skills and knowledge of visualization to apply to one's research results.
These knowledge and skills covered in the course are also expected to be utilized in everyday communication situations and improve its quality.
In addition, a deep understanding of one's own research is required in order to express one's thoughts in visuals. Then, it is also expected that students will be able to comprehend their research deeply again through the course.
In acquiring these skills, students would need some additional abilities like Visual Literacy and negative Capability; it is expected that students would get through this course.
　
Things to pay attention
As this course aims at information visualization in academia, some points can be used in other applications (e.g. business), but others cannot. As this is not a course for business purposes, if one expects such content, the content of the class may differ from what one expects.

Student learning outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Understand the importance of designing information.
2) Understand and be able to design and visualise the audience and the means of presentation appropriately.
3) Present one research in an appropriate amount of time and volume.
4) Using suitable design and visualisation accurately for what one wants to express
5) Communicate one's sensory impression and thought into one's words precisely.
6) Understand some information from multiple dimensions and perspectives through discussion with others.

Keywords

Information design, Visualization, Information graphics, Communication, Conference presentation, Art, Visual Literacy and Negative capability.

Competencies that will be developed

Specialist skills ✔ Intercultural skills ✔ Communication skills Critical thinking skills ✔ Practical and/or problem-solving skills
✔ Hand techniques will grow after eye techniques are built. Hence, observation abilities are vital to enhance one's design abilities. In this course, try to focus on increasing one's observation ability.

Class flow

Every class, perform group work about a particular artwork (s) related to the class theme to develop the skills of observation and expression with one's words.
Afterwards, the lecturer provides some basic knowledge and a point for the practice. Finally, students will use the knowledge acquired through a class to work on practice, presentation and case study of the information design.

Due to the lecturer's health condition, ther is certain possibility to use Zoom and the breakout room system to discuss. The lecturer will inform students as soon as the situation is confirmed; if needed, please download the Zoom application before starting this class.

Inquiries can be received through collaboration tools (e.g. chat in Zoom).
Students are asked to submit a comment sheet online after every class.
Information, such as problem-solving and consultation, is shared with all participants at any time through T2SCHOLA as needed.

Course schedule/Required learning

  Course schedule Required learning
Class 1 Course guidance - How to convey information, importance of the information design, and possibility of visualization. Realise the importance of information design.
Class 2 The basics of information design - About how to convey a information. Understanding the ways of communicating would change depending on whom and how we want to present it and use those points in practice.
Class 3 Elements of information design (1) - Colours Understanding different colours could provide different impressions and potential messages, and be able to select the right colours for the information strategically.
Class 4 Elements of information design (2) - Forms and fonts Understand some figure forms have possibility to given impression, and be able to select appropriate forms for graphs and tables.
Class 5 Elements of information design (3) - Decoration and Modification. Being able to explore appropriate ways of presentation depending on the different audience, environment and information itself, and understand the pros and cons of modifying information, then be able to apply that knowledge in practice.
Class 6 Practice of visualization (1) - Make a strategic drafts and peer reviews. To use the knowledge through the previous lectures, be able to create a draft of visualising each conduction research, and using the drafts, gain some new insights from others through peer reviews.
Class 7 Practice of visualization (2) - Make a strategic drafts and peer reviews. As a continuation of last week, to use the knowledge through the previous lectures and be able to create the visual draft and detailed strategy of presentation. Then, to use them to able to realise some new ideas of perspectives, new techniques and various outputs from others through peer reviews.
Class 8 Practice of visualization as an examine of this course Practice: constructing certain information strategically under given conditions using previous lectures' outputs (it will be conducted as examine of this course)

Out-of-Class Study Time (Preparation and Review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

I would appoint it as needed.

Reference books, course materials, etc.

Reference book-
Edward R. Tufte. (2006). Beautiful Evidence. Graphics Pr. ISBN: 0961392177
Lecture materials-
Create a handout that summarizes the basic knowledge of every class information design and distribute it by a class.

Assessment criteria and methods

I evaluate every class remark and participation degree by the group work to perform（40%）, and artifacts that were created using the acquired knowledge through teaching (60%).

This class's exam will be held on the last day of the course.
If you are unable to take the exam on the day, special arrangements will be made.
Details will be explained in the first class.

Related courses

  • none

Prerequisites (i.e., required knowledge, skills, courses, etc.)

Nothing special, but during the 3Quarter, keep in mind to try to use your observing ability not only in our class but also all the time.

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