Skip to content

Visualization Paradigm Selection

Run the Visualization Paradigm Selection MicroSim Fullscreen Edit the Visualization Paradigm Selection MicroSim Using the p5.js Editor

Description

This interactive MicroSim helps learners choose the most appropriate visualization paradigm for their content. By answering simple questions about your data characteristics, you can quickly identify whether your content is best represented as a Timeline, Map, Network Graph, Chart, or Flowchart.

How to Use

  1. Read the central question at the top of the diagram
  2. Click on the visualization type that matches your content characteristics
  3. Review the detailed information panel that appears below with:
  4. Description of when to use this visualization
  5. Specific use cases
  6. Real-world examples

Visualization Paradigms

Paradigm Best For Key Question
Timeline Sequential events, history, schedules Does your content show change over time?
Map Geographic data, locations, spatial info Does it show geographic locations?
Network Graph Relationships, connections, dependencies Does it show relationships between concepts?
Chart Quantities, comparisons, statistics Does it show quantities to compare?
Flowchart Processes, decisions, algorithms Does it show processes or workflows?

When to Use Each Visualization

Timeline

  • Project milestones and schedules
  • Historical events and periods
  • Process sequences over time
  • Version history and evolution

Map

  • Store or facility locations
  • Population or demographic data
  • Weather patterns and forecasts
  • Regional comparisons

Network Graph

  • Learning concept dependencies
  • Organizational structures
  • Social network connections
  • System architecture diagrams

Chart

  • Sales and financial data
  • Survey results and statistics
  • Performance metrics
  • Trend analysis

Flowchart

  • Decision-making processes
  • Algorithm logic
  • User journey flows
  • System workflows

Embedding This MicroSim

You can include this MicroSim on your website using the following iframe:

1
<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/automating-instructional-design/sims/viz-paradigm-selection/main.html" height="502px" scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Objective

Students will understand the characteristics of different visualization paradigms and apply this knowledge to select appropriate visualizations for various types of content.

Activities

  1. Exploration (5 minutes): Have students interact with the decision tree, clicking on each visualization type to learn its characteristics.

  2. Matching Exercise (10 minutes): Present students with various data scenarios and have them identify which visualization would be most appropriate:

  3. Company sales figures over 5 years
  4. Steps in the scientific method
  5. Relationships between vocabulary terms

  6. Customer locations across the country

  7. Application (15 minutes): Students select a topic from their own coursework and determine which visualization paradigm would best represent their content.

Assessment

Students correctly match data types to visualization paradigms and justify their selections based on data characteristics.

References

  • Few, S. (2012). Show Me the Numbers: Designing Tables and Graphs to Enlighten
  • Cairo, A. (2016). The Truthful Art: Data, Charts, and Maps for Communication
  • Munzner, T. (2014). Visualization Analysis and Design