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Graphical Representation of Data
Posted by anthrodocz
Graphical Representation of Data
Mar 14, 2008 02:03AM
Mar 14, 2008 02:03AM
This might go under "Mashups," but also under "Requested Features"... and yet I am putting it here first under "3rd Party Tools."
I just checked out the "curriculum map" feature of eLumen, and it returned some interesting results, mostly about counts of assessments. This reminded me of the number of times I have thought about what any of our data could look like, were some creative, graphically-oriented db person to put their mind to it. Imagine, for example, our 'intended outcomes' or 'intended abilities' being mapped to a graphical layout like that used by Steihl and Lewchuk's mapping approaches:
This is just one sample, but imagine the possibilities of how both quantitative and qualitative data might be very effectively presented in unexpected ways:
And then there is the mashup potential....
The following is a clickable link --->
We Feel Fine: A Mashup of Emotions on the Web!
Just thinking--- 'graphical representation of eLumen-generated evidence'
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2008 07:37AM by anthrodocz. (view changes)
I just checked out the "curriculum map" feature of eLumen, and it returned some interesting results, mostly about counts of assessments. This reminded me of the number of times I have thought about what any of our data could look like, were some creative, graphically-oriented db person to put their mind to it. Imagine, for example, our 'intended outcomes' or 'intended abilities' being mapped to a graphical layout like that used by Steihl and Lewchuk's mapping approaches:
This is just one sample, but imagine the possibilities of how both quantitative and qualitative data might be very effectively presented in unexpected ways:
And then there is the mashup potential....
We Feel Fine: A Mashup of Emotions on the Web!
Just thinking--- 'graphical representation of eLumen-generated evidence'
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/14/2008 07:37AM by anthrodocz. (view changes)
Mar 25, 2008 04:35PM
Hey, everyone loves a picture! I don't think you'll get any argument there. My thoughts:
The fundamental thing about eLumen is its controlled flexibility. Since the same assessment model could be assembled in a variety of ways to get the kind of output people need, it would be hard or impossible to provide stock relational models which expose complex relationships as a packaged unit. Additionally, building these kinds of diagrams is still in many ways not quite there for the web, for a variety of reasons. However, there are great analysis tools out there which provide the framework for designing dynamic, data-driven diagrams which just need to be fed the data in a certain format to produce lovely pictures that put ideas into perspective for us. One such tool - one we use in the IR department at Tunxis - is SPSS. The base package would probably not be able to do the diagrams, but some of the add-on products that they make can do it. And since the eLumen database is open, it would be 2 steps to generate an open diagram that could be reused by any college. Step 1: write the SQL query to extrapolate a CSV data dump; step 2) create the diagram in {tool of choice} which would dynamically analyze the data and produce a deliverable graphic.
Taking all this into consideration, you posted in the right forum!
I think this could evolve into a feature request once we agree on the parameters that would go into making such diagrams and how the parameters interrelate.
James Revillini
eLumen Admin / Research Specialist / Webmaster
Tunxis CC
The fundamental thing about eLumen is its controlled flexibility. Since the same assessment model could be assembled in a variety of ways to get the kind of output people need, it would be hard or impossible to provide stock relational models which expose complex relationships as a packaged unit. Additionally, building these kinds of diagrams is still in many ways not quite there for the web, for a variety of reasons. However, there are great analysis tools out there which provide the framework for designing dynamic, data-driven diagrams which just need to be fed the data in a certain format to produce lovely pictures that put ideas into perspective for us. One such tool - one we use in the IR department at Tunxis - is SPSS. The base package would probably not be able to do the diagrams, but some of the add-on products that they make can do it. And since the eLumen database is open, it would be 2 steps to generate an open diagram that could be reused by any college. Step 1: write the SQL query to extrapolate a CSV data dump; step 2) create the diagram in {tool of choice} which would dynamically analyze the data and produce a deliverable graphic.
Taking all this into consideration, you posted in the right forum!
I think this could evolve into a feature request once we agree on the parameters that would go into making such diagrams and how the parameters interrelate.James Revillini
eLumen Admin / Research Specialist / Webmaster
Tunxis CC
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