This great share was contributed to VisualizeYourLearning by Andrew Mowat
Deepen The Learning Experience By Using Small Data Visualisation
When we think of data visualisation, we often connect the idea of data visualisation with big data. You’ve probably seen the gorgeous visualisations on David McCandless’s Ted Talk from 2010. One unintended outcome from work like this is that data visualisation can seem inaccessible to the average user – we assume that we don’t have the resources or expertise to create such visual elegance.
I’m here to say that this is not the case. There is a place for what some call small data, and there are apps and platforms that can convey numerical information in elegant and useful ways.
The first I want to explore is a favourite platform of mine – Mentimeter (https://www.mentimeter.com). Some of you may already be using this minimalistic yet highly useful site. My own use case is to create connection and insight in the minds of adult learners in the programs I run.
Rather than a one-way transmission of content, I use Mentimeter to collect user input after framing an idea, concept or model. After input, the aggregation and visualisation of the results provides strong provocation through explorative questions and group insight.
I think a part of the secret sauce here is that deeper engagement extends from ownership of the data. “This is about us…”. In the image below, presented to a workshop group exploring metacognition in teaching and learning, the group input was around working knowledge and classroom use of metacognitive strategies.
In this case, discussion, discovery and action were all mobilised by the group’s insight into levels of metacognition knowledge and practice being way lower than expected. While group ownership of the data is one element that contributes, the clean interface and the visual representation of the data points against the overall trend also strongly assist learning impact.
Mentimeter’s ability to use a variety of entry points into the data collection – links, numerical codes and QR codes – makes it easy for participants to add to the data story. Further, I use QR codes during my (synchronous) online training sessions, given that most people engage on a laptop and have a mobile device nearby.
Lastly, to close the loop, the results page (with a different link to the poll page) is able to be embedded. Again, my use case is to embed the results in a learning platform (I use Teachable and Learnworlds) for students to access asynchronously, and to continue the discussion.
Besides collecting data about the audience themselves, another use case is around an easy data collection instrument for students research needing ‘public’ polling.
Particularly useful in a number of IB (International Baccalaureate) projects, short links and QR codes make it easy for students to collect raw data, sometimes in innovative ways. The rich visualisation environment then promotes deeper analysis and conclusion.
This all helps the learning and engagement design move substantially along the SAMR scale deep into Modification and Redefinition.
To see the results page, visit http://bit.ly/tryoutsmalldata
Without being able to do this here in this article, a neat thing to do is to embed the results as a code snippet into any platform capable of embedding.
For me, the only downside of Mentimeter is its price. On the free account, you have access to two slides, a third if you recommend a friend. After that, it is $US120 a year. One close alternative that has recently emerged is Ahaslides (https://ahaslides.com).
Ahaslides has many of the feature set of Mentimeter, either at the fee account level, or at a significantly lower cost. The only missing feature for me (in my discovery so far) is the lack of embed code for the results, though this may not be a show stopper for you.
Regardless of the app, the key here is to make visualisation accessible as a lever for deeper learning. Apps like Mentimeter and AhaSlides do the heavy lifting of engagement, cognitive work, and learner progression, especially when baked into robust learning design.
So what do you make of this? Do you use an app to dig into small data for your students or audience? What friction points have you discovered? You could use the example poll above to add your answers.
More than ever, data visualisation using small data is both more available than ever before, and the opportunity to deepen learning in a number of layers is there before us.
Andrew Mowat
Andrew is the Principal Partner of MetaLearn Education and the Lead Partner for Learning for Ignite EdTech, both of which are based in Singapore. He is somewhat intimidated by having been in education over 40 years, yet still loves and enjoys working in adult learning and professional development. He especially loves exploring the convergence of technology, neuroscience, and leadership. Contact links: https://linktr.ee/amowat