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Economist Education
Data Storytelling and Visualisation
Learn to harness data visualisation to enable better decisions and communicate clear, powerful messages.
Start date
20 January 2025
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Course duration
2 weeks
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
6 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The Economist’s data-analysis tool for purchasing-power parity is a global standard used in textbooks and academic studies.
The Economist (January 2023).
The proportion of companies that increased investment in data and analytics in 2022, according to a survey by Wavestone, a consulting firm.
Wavestone (January 2023).
Duration: 2 weeks
Almost everyone works with data in some form. Understanding how to do so effectively is a critical skill in a data-rich world. But to get the most out of your numbers and present a clear and compelling narrative, you need the skills to draw out the story beneath the data and communicate it to different audiences.
Data Storytelling and Visualisation, an online course from Economist Education, ensures you improve your skills and bolster your confidence in working with data. It teaches you how to develop a “data mindset”: a way to think about problems in business and the world at large, and recognise how data can help you make better decisions. Over two stimulating weeks, you will discover how best to visualise different data sets, and spot and avoid common pitfalls.
People new to data and chart-making will gain a set of practical, foundational skills. Those who work with data regularly will benefit from tips on honing their data-storytelling skills and making simple but powerful data visualisations. Both groups will learn how to create a culture of data-led problem-solving, guided by The Economist’s award-winning data journalists, and receive detailed feedback on their charts from course tutors.
Is this course for you?
This is a foundational course for people who review, analyse or prepare reports and presentations using data, as well as those who want to use data in decision-making. It will benefit professionals looking to build their confidence in communicating insights from data to various audiences. It will also be valuable to those with analytics experience who would benefit from advice on visualising and presenting data. This course is designed for leaders, managers and decision-makers interested in learning practical techniques, as well as analysts and analytics managers who need to communicate specialist information and insights to an audience with persuasive power.
This course does not provide detailed, technical instruction in complex visualisations such as videographics or the most intricate infographics. However, even professionals with advanced data-visualisation skills stand to benefit from the course’s insights into unearthing the story beneath data and visualising the narrative clearly and beautifully.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 2 weeks
Almost everyone works with data in some form. Understanding how to do so effectively is a critical skill in a data-rich world. But to get the most out of your numbers and present a clear and compelling narrative, you need the skills to draw out the story beneath the data and communicate it to different audiences.
Data Storytelling and Visualisation, an online course from Economist Education, ensures you improve your skills and bolster your confidence in working with data. It teaches you how to develop a “data mindset”: a way to think about problems in business and the world at large, and recognise how data can help you make better decisions. Over two stimulating weeks, you will discover how best to visualise different data sets, and spot and avoid common pitfalls.
People new to data and chart-making will gain a set of practical, foundational skills. Those who work with data regularly will benefit from tips on honing their data-storytelling skills and making simple but powerful data visualisations. Both groups will learn how to create a culture of data-led problem-solving, guided by The Economist’s award-winning data journalists, and receive detailed feedback on their charts from course tutors.
Is this course for you?
This is a foundational course for people who review, analyse or prepare reports and presentations using data, as well as those who want to use data in decision-making. It will benefit professionals looking to build their confidence in communicating insights from data to various audiences. It will also be valuable to those with analytics experience who would benefit from advice on visualising and presenting data. This course is designed for leaders, managers and decision-makers interested in learning practical techniques, as well as analysts and analytics managers who need to communicate specialist information and insights to an audience with persuasive power.
This course does not provide detailed, technical instruction in complex visualisations such as videographics or the most intricate infographics. However, even professionals with advanced data-visualisation skills stand to benefit from the course’s insights into unearthing the story beneath data and visualising the narrative clearly and beautifully.
How is this course different?
What will set you apart
A “data mindset”: an understanding that problems in life or business can be better understood and communicated with data.
Practical, foundational skills for bringing data to life through storytelling and visualisation, to illuminate, communicate and influence decision-making.
A critical grounding in data visualisation, including how to select the best chart to depict different types of data while avoiding common pitfalls.
Expert insights from top data journalists at The Economist and a range of expert guest speakers.
Unlimited access to the official Economist Education alumni group on LinkedIn and edX’s Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional progress.The curriculum
Module 1
Narratives in numbers
Develop confidence in harnessing data to craft a compelling narrative.
- Explore the range of ways in which data are collected, analysed and presented
- Articulate the narratives that are latent in data
- Learn how to source, process and communicate data effectively
- Assess and combine multiple sources of data to find new insights
- Evaluate data and findings for common errors in collecting and analysing numbers
Module 2
Effective infographics
Develop data visualisations to effectively inform and persuade others, and make better decisions.
- Understand how to present data simply and clearly
- Choose the right chart for a specific data-visualisation goal
- Articulate how visual elements and design principles can be used to create effective data visualisations
- Identify the common errors and potential deceptions that can occur in data visualisations
Course founders
Kenneth Cukier
Deputy executive editor, The Economist
Alex Selby-Boothroyd
Head of data journalism, The Economist
Your skills recognised
Validate your skills online with an official digital badge from Economist Education.
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How you will learn
This online course is divided into manageable units designed to accelerate your progress:
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Work through downloadable and online instructional material
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Interact with your peers and tutors in reviewed small group discussions
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Enjoy a wide range of interactive content, including videos, podcasts and more
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Receive a toolkit for practical use in your career
Apply what you learn throughout this two-week online course and develop the skills to use data to make better decisions.
Your success team
GetSmarter, a provider of online education, offers a personalised approach to learning that ensures you are supported every step of the way.
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Head tutor
A subject-matter expert who will guide you through content-related challenges.
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Global success team
Available 24/7 to solve your tech-related and administrative queries and concerns.
A powerful collaboration
Economist Education is collaborating with GetSmarter, an online education provider, to create courses that add lasting value to your business and professional life.
About The Economist and Economist Education
For more than 175 years, The Economist has been covering the critical global issues and explaining what to make of them. With its objective analysis and original insight, The Economist is one of the world’s most trusted brands in journalism.
Building on this legacy, Economist Education offers online courses led by expert practitioners and written by The Economist’s team of correspondents and editors. Since its launch in 2021, Economist Education has won the 2022 DPA Award for Best Digital Publishing Innovation, as well as the 2022 Digiday Award for Best Subscription or Membership Product.
About GetSmarter
GetSmarter, part of edX, partners with the world's leading universities and institutions to select, design and deliver premium online courses with a data-driven focus on learning. Technology meets academic rigour in GetSmarter’s instructor-led interactive online format, which allows for self-paced learning and a greater level of engagement.
Develop a “data mindset”
Learn to create a culture of data-driven problem-solving on Economist Education’s two-week online course, Data Storytelling and Visualisation.
Want to know more?
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best. You'll be presented with the course content at the beginning of each module so that you can plan your time.
You also have access to the Global success team who will support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please see the list of university partner login pages here.
