Interdisciplinary Skills for the Interdisciplinary Skills for the 2121stst Century Learner Century LearnerEDUCAUSE – May 6, 2008EDUCAUSE – May 6, 2008

John Gibson,John Gibson, Oris Friesen, & Florence Martin Oris Friesen, & Florence Martin Maricopa Community Colleges, Arizona Maricopa Community Colleges, Arizona

AgendaAgenda

• Project Origins

• Introduction to DVL

• DVL Modules

• Instructional Design & Assessment

• Excel Module Example

• YOUR Ideas: DVL’s Potential Uses?

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Project OriginsProject Origins

• 3-year, $600,000 National Science Foundation Advanced Technological Education Grant

• Original Partnership between Brown University & Maricopa Community Colleges

• Final Year – Focus on Dissemination

• GOAL: Introduce Digital Visual Literacy modules into introductory community college courses: – Educate teachers– Use DVL modules in existing courses– Perform assessment– Disseminate results

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What is DVL?What is DVL?

• DVL is a set of vital interdisciplinary skills that enable students and teachers to function in an increasingly digital and visual workplace

• DVL builds on previous Visual Literacy efforts, but integrates new research material, as well

• Examples:• Visual Language: Global Communication for the 21st Century

(Robert E. Horn, 1999)• Visual Thinking (Rudolf Arnheim, 2004)• Visual Literacy: Learn to See, See to Learn (Lynell Burmark,

2002)

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What InterdisciplinaryWhat Interdisciplinary Skills?Skills?

• The ability to…

1. Critically evaluate digital visual materials (2D and 3D, static and moving)

2. Make decisions using digital visual representations of data and ideas

3. Use computers to create effective visual communications

• Across the curriculum!

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Why? Images Are Everywhere!Why? Images Are Everywhere!

• Graphical interfaces make easy computing possible

• Photorealistic CGI (computer generated images) for movies and simulations

• Large data sets can be visualized (weather, etc.)

• Visualization lets doctors look inside your body

• Industrial design depends on CAD (computer-aided design)

• Simulations affect most areas of science, from nanotechnology to biology and beyond

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A Historic TrendA Historic Trend

• Images used to be displayed in only a few places, such as churches, but are now ubiquitous

• Television was introduced only 60 years ago

• By HS graduation US children will have spent more time in front of the TV than in the classroom (AACAP)

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Computer Technology Computer Technology Has Accelerated this ChangeHas Accelerated this Change

1900: Kodak’s “brownie” camera

1900s (early): first movie theaters

1980s bulky, low quality VCR a “wow” item

1984: ATT breakup

1990: color printers ~$10K

19th century studio camera, with bellows for focusing Bell Howell Keychain Digital Camera

2006: Kodak sells no film cameras

2006: desktop movie making

2006 tiny iPOD has HD video

2006: cell phones have megapixel+ camera, video, even scanners

2006: given as bank “gifts”

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Skill Sets Are ChangingSkill Sets Are Changing

• You can’t believe everything you see• Role of design in business is widely recognized• Accelerating demand for graduates with visual,

holistic thinking

Daniel Pink’s agriculture to industrial age to knowledge work to age of conceptual thinking

From “A Whole New Mind: Why Right-Brainers Will Rule The Future” by Daniel Pink, 2006

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““If students aren’t taught the language of … If students aren’t taught the language of … images, shouldn’t they be considered as images, shouldn’t they be considered as illiterate as if they left college without being illiterate as if they left college without being able to read or write?” (George Lucas)able to read or write?” (George Lucas)

Think about the “literacy” we teach…Think about the “literacy” we teach…

Convergence, 21Convergence, 21stst Century Skills, & Century Skills, & “Complex Tacit Interactions”“Complex Tacit Interactions”

Is the 4th R a V?Is the 4th R a V?

Profound Implications…Profound Implications…10

An Integration of DisciplinesAn Integration of Disciplines!!

• Academics– Sciences – Humanities– Business

• Application areas (medicine, military, etc.)

• Little conversation between practitioners in these fields

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Contributing DisciplinesContributing Disciplines

1. Visual Culture: Critical discussion of visual materials and history, including topics in art history, media culture, visual history, and philosophy.

2. Art and Design: Basic concepts in 2D, 3D, and time-based visual art and design

3. Vision Science: Basic concepts in neuroscience, perception, and cognitive science

4. Computer Graphics and Visualization (CS): Basic concepts in the science of computer graphics

5. Image Economy: The economic implications of creating, distributing, purchasing, exchanging visual (largely digital) materials

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Best Delivered As “Modules”Best Delivered As “Modules”

• FREE!!!• Strengthens Textbooks

– with supplementary materials

• Complete Instructional Design• Small, flexible, & tested • Downloadable from website• You can adapt original files!• Can be used in any course• 12 modules a beginning…

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Beginning ModulesBeginning Modules

Introduction to Digital Visual Literacy Anne Spalter – Brown University

Practical Visual Copyright John Gibson – Glendale Community College

Visual Rhetoric for Blog Janet Brooks – Glendale Community College

Visual Dialog in Ecommerce Linda Offenberg – Phoenix College

Graphics Literacy Gail Korkames – Phoenix College

3D Graphics John Roberts – Glendale Community College

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Practical Visual CopyrightPractical Visual Copyright

• Laws balancing financial gain and freedom of use

• Protecting and licensing your images

• How to find images and assess their copyright status

• Resolving workplace Issues

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BLOG ModuleBLOG Module

• How do we “read” images? Similarities with text.

• How is visual meaning created?

• Synergy between text and images in establishing an explanation or a line of argument.

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Visual Dialog in E-commerceVisual Dialog in E-commerce

• New business models and strategies inspired by digital visual communication…– Kodak Easy Share, flickr,

etc.

• Compare company product photos with user uploaded ones on Amazon

You can now add a picture of a product to Amazon…

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Graphics Literacy ModuleGraphics Literacy Module

• Overview of basic graphics terms, concepts, and tools

• An introduction to basic skills using MS Paint

• Designed to promote student awareness of the technology and talent involved in creating computer graphics

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3D Graphics Module3D Graphics Module

• What is 3D graphics?

• How are businesses taking advantage?

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MS Office ModulesMS Office Modules

Visual Display of Information Using Word• 2003 • 2007

Visual Display of Information Using PowerPoint• 2003• 2007

Influencing Decisions with Charts – Excel• 2003• 2007

Kay Gaisford – Mesa Community College

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Word and PowerPointWord and PowerPoint• Better visual design in Word and PowerPoint• Addresses basic design principles and vocabulary

Better Design

Through

1.Contrast

2.Repetition

3.Alignment

4.Proximity

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Excel Charts and GraphsExcel Charts and Graphs• Excel can make your numbers look pretty.

But is the result meaningful?

• How to analyze and create…Two Excel Charts Made

From One Set of Data, but They Convey Very

Different Messages

• Pyramid shape makes top portion look smaller than the data it represents

• 3-D effect make it difficult to accurately read the numbers

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DVL Brochure (outside)DVL Brochure (outside) 23

DVL Brochure (inside)DVL Brochure (inside) 24

Development of the Instructor Development of the Instructor GuidesGuides

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Instructor Guide Sample Instructor Guide Sample PagesPages

Instructor Guide Summary

Presentation with Instructor Notes

Grading Rubric

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ADDIE Process in DVLADDIE Process in DVL

• Analysis

• Design

• Development

• Implementation

• Evaluation

Instructor Guide Summary Templates

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Instructional Design Matrix – Using Excel 2007 to Design Charts that Influence and Inform

Goal: The student will Demonstrate knowledge of the power of visual representations of numerical data. Be able to determine which type of chart best supports accurate, effective communication of data. Analyze and interpret numeric data by creating charts. Analyze charts to determine accuracy of data representation.

Objectives Information/ExamplesPractice with

FeedbackAssessment  

1. Describe the difference in ease of comprehension between the numerical data and the visual representation of that data.

Excel-2007-DVL-Presentation.ppt Excel-2007-Chart-Types-and-

Design.doc

In class discussion

Excel-2007-Quiz-With-

Answers.doc 

2. Explain reasons for the widespread use of charts and graphs in popular media as well as business communications.

Excel-2007-DVL-Presentation.ppt Excel-2007-Chart-Types-and-

Design.doc

In class discussion

Excel-2007-Quiz-With-

Answers.doc 

3. Select appropriate chart type that will best visually represent the data based on the chart type rubric.

Excel-2007-DVL-Presentation.pptExcel-2007-Chart-Types-and-

Design.doc

In class discussion Projects 1

and 2

Excel-2007-Project-1.doc

Excel-2007-Project-2.doc

Excel-2007-Quiz-With-

Answers.doc

 

4. Describe criteria for displaying and formatting chart elements.

Excel-2007-DVL-Presentation.ppt Excel-2007-Chart-Types-and-

Design.doc

In class discussion

Excel-2007-Quiz-With-

Answers.doc 

5. Describe design principles that will help make charts more attractive and effective.

Excel-2007-DVL-Presentation.pptExcel-2007-Chart-Types-and-

Design.doc

In class discussion Projects 1

and 2

Excel-2007-Quiz-With-

Answers.doc 

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Knowledge of DVL - based on student perception

0.000.501.001.502.002.503.003.504.004.50

Blog (

N=52)

Excel

(N=20

)

Power

poin

t (N=33

)

Wor

d (N

=11)

3D G

raph

ics (N

=13)

Copyr

ight (

N=9)

Ecom

mer

ce (

N=63)

Modules

Kn

ow

led

ge

of

DV

L o

n L

ike

rt

Sc

ale Before DVL Module

After DVL Module

Rating Scale: 5 = very knowledgeable 4 = Knowledgeable about3 = Uncertain 2 = Somewhat knowledgeable 1 = not knowledgeable about

Before & After 29

Charts are Computer Graphics Charts are Computer Graphics Apply Graphic Design Principles - Apply Graphic Design Principles - ContrastContrast

-5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40

Sales Used Auto Sales Drop Off Friday Evenings During Football SeasonAverage Sales September-November 2006

23% 24% 25%

33%35%

2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

Market share has improved 12 points since 2003New Models Boosted Sales beginning in 2006

▲ Contrast is the use of differences to create interest, excitement, show importance of different items.

▲ Spot color contrasts with other colors.

▲ Bold columns (color, width) contrast with white background.

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Lying With ChartsLying With ChartsLying with Poor Chart ChoicesLying with Poor Chart Choices

▲ Misleading charts may result in errors in decision-making

▲ Charts are often designed in ways that hide what the data might tell us, or that distract the reader from quickly discerning the meaning of the chart.

This Charity Keeps Administrative Costs Low

Administrative Costs Other Expenses

Administrative Costs Take a Big Chunk of Funds Raised

Administrative Costs Other Expenses

Wedges at the front of a 3-D pie chart appear larger

than in the back

31Adapted from Charts and Graphs for Microsoft Excel 2007, Bill Jelen, Que Books, 2007.

Misleading ChartsMisleading ChartsUsing a Chart Type that Obscures the TruthUsing a Chart Type that Obscures the Truth

▲ the Area chart to the right above shows that marketing costs are rising sharply.

▲ The Stacked Area chart to the right obscures this trend

▲ The clustered column chart shows each data point separately so that trends can be examined for all 4 expense areas.

0

200

400

600

800

1000

2003 2004 2005 2006

c

Manufacturing Marketing R&D Sales

This Stacked Area Chart Obscures Cost Trends

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2003 2004 2005 2006

aMarketing Costs Are Going Through the Roof

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

2003 2004 2005 2006

c

Manufacturing Marketing R&D Sales

This Clustered Column Chart Shows Data Points Clearly

32Adapted from Charts and Graphs for Microsoft Excel 2007, Bill Jelen, Que Books, 2007.

Chart Types – ColumnChart Types – Column The best chart type is the one that gets The best chart type is the one that gets

your message across most effectivelyyour message across most effectively

▲ Column charts are good for up to 12 data points. Otherwise, use bar or line chart.

▲ Clustered column chart shows each data point separately (easy to interpret)

▲ 100% Stacked Column chart compares the percentage each value contributes to a total across categories

▲ Cylindars, Cones, and Pyramids are similar to column charts with more dramatic shapes (sometimes distort perception).

▲ 3-D effects use more ink, more space,and distort perception

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DVL WikiDVL Wiki• DVL Wiki: http://dvl.mc.maricopa.edu

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DVL – The 4DVL – The 4thth R is a V! R is a V!

• New skills are needed to succeed in a digital visual workplace

• DVL modules can help:– Strategically introduce this emerging field in your

classes– Strengthen your current offerings

• JOIN US!!!

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Decision Theatre

(Arizona State University)

YOUR Ideas: DVL’s Potential Uses?YOUR Ideas: DVL’s Potential Uses?

• How could you apply Digital Visual Literacy in your curriculum?

• Do you have any thoughts about future DVL modules and new initiatives?

• Interest so far: Universities, community colleges, high schools, middle schools, and new partnerships/grants

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For More InformationFor More Information

Digital Visual Literacy Project

Maricopa Community Colleges

http://dvl.mc.maricopa.edu/

(480) 731-8124

dvl@domail.maricopa.edu

This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Grant No. 0501965. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or

recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation (NSF).

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