Core Module Information
Module title: Interactive Data Visualisation

SCQF level: 11:
SCQF credit value: 20.00
ECTS credit value: 10

Module code: SET11129
Module leader: Peter Chapman
School School of Computing, Engineering and the Built Environment
Subject area group: Computer Science
Prerequisites

There are no pre-requisites for this module to be added

Description of module content:

This module will introduce, explore, and develop interactive data visualisations. You will explore the challenges and opportunities presented when users have the ability to explore, interrogate, and otherwise manipulate the visual representation of data in real-time. Importantly, you will be required to build interactive visualisations from fundamental building blocks, so that you get a deep understanding of how said visualisations work, as well as the ability to design new and unique visualisations.First, fundamental design principles will be discussed and explored, with an emphasis on how these apply to visual and interaction design. Next, modern tools and techniques for data-driven visualisation will be examined so that you can create simple static visualisations in an interactive environment. For example, this might include how to create a bar chart or a scatter plot for display in a web browser. Finally, the module will explore how to add interaction to these visualisations. This will start with simple interaction, before you learn how to create more complex interactive visualisations using state-of-the-art tools and techniques. These final creations will allow you to explore, implement, and critically reflect on data-driven, interactive data visualisations.

Learning Outcomes for module:

Upon completion of this module you will be able to

LO1: Apply knowledge of fundamental design principles to visualisation design.

LO2: Demonstrate how fundamental design principles apply to interaction.

LO3: Critically apply modern tools and techniques in order to visualise data in an interactive environment.

LO4: Construc, implement and critically evaluate a complex interactive data visualisation.

LO5: Critically reflect on the advantages and disadvantages of interaction in data visualisation.

Full Details of Teaching and Assessment
2025/6, Trimester 2, In Person,
VIEW FULL DETAILS
Occurrence: 001
Primary mode of delivery: In Person
Location of delivery: MERCHISTON
Partner:
Member of staff responsible for delivering module: Peter Chapman
Module Organiser:


Student Activity (Notional Equivalent Study Hours (NESH))
Mode of activityLearning & Teaching ActivityNESH (Study Hours)NESH Description
Face To Face Lecture 20 In the lectures, you will be introduced to the theoretical aspects of Data Visualisation, and then Interaction. The material will be linked to the Practical Classes through the use of code snippets.
Face To Face Practical classes and workshops 20 In the practicals, you will have the opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the lectures to small-scale examples. The practicals are also intended to prepare you for your coursework assignments.
Online Guided independent study 160 You will be directed towards a number of key readings on the subject of Interactive Data Visualisation, to augment your learning from the contact sessions.
Total Study Hours200
Expected Total Study Hours for Module200


Assessment
Type of Assessment Weighting % LOs covered Week due Length in Hours/Words Description
Project - Written 30 1~2~3~5 Week 6 , WORDS= 500 words 3 mi In this piece of work, you will provide a Data Visualisation plan, which you will later implement. This plan will be in the form of a dashboard layout, with no interactive elements, and a report (no more than 500 words) or video (3 minutes) detailing the choices made and the interactions to be added. Feedback from this will inform your later submission for the final report.
Project - Practical 70 1~2~3~4~5 Week 13 HOURS= 7 minutes In this capstone piece of work, you will fully implement the plan from the first coursework for your dataset. An interactive dashboard will be implemented, and you will provide a demonstration video (no more than 7 minutes) of it in action. Key insights from the dataset will be presented, and choices made regarding the visualisations justified with reference to the course material.
Component 1 subtotal: 100
Component 2 subtotal: 0
Module subtotal: 100

Indicative References and Reading List - URL:
Contact your module leader