Speaking the Language of Data Visualization

Understanding data visualization technologies is critical to recognizing and responding to enrollment trends and patterns — particularly for community colleges facing precipitous decline.

As a 21st-century consumer, my home is full of sophisticated technology that is deceptively simple. On any given day I may use my smart speakers to get directions, find a recipe or adjust my thermostat, all without considering the complexity behind what drives this technology. Similarly, those of us in higher ed who use data visualization technologies to reveal underlying institutional priorities and pain points may also feel a pull between sophistication and simplicity.

In both instances, learning something new or seeking to achieve a desired result requires the first step: asking questions. However, the real challenge lies in the art "asking" technologies the right questions. An ask that is made in a way that is outside of how the technologies understand will quickly lead to unexpected complications or undesired results. This is particularly true when it comes to data visualization technologies, which graphically represent important data points and offer a helpful way to reveal trends and patterns.