Pennies for Peace Update

Data visualization

I'm testing data visualization software (and ideas) for a faculty member working on a project about real estate values and public school systems.  I have a couple of examples I made of visualizations of Connecticut housing data using Tableau Public here and here.  Of course, with Tableau Public, you have to worry about the stability of the cloud, so for this particular project, I'm not sure whether this will do. 

But I'm a big fan of Jon Udell (and Hans Rosling) and so I would make the argument that creating screencasts in which the author of data visualization narrates the data are going to be useful for those who would rather sit back and listen.  These days, the free tools with which you can make screencasts are endless, but I prefer Screencast-o-matic.  The interface looks clunky, but works like a dream.  (Read this review of 12 screencasting tools if you want to try something else).  With Screencast-o-matic, you can export your screencast as an mp4 (like here), allowing you to preserve whatever (possibly) unstable data visualizations you have created while simultaneously supplementing the visualization with a soundtrack.

New printer

In response to multiple student requests, the SSC is getting a first printer and, at least for the first year, we will offer (dare I say it?) free printing.

The plan is set the default printing settings in the SSC to print double-sided and to use an eco-font. Students are welcome to use the printer, but advised to use it mostly for their own papers and assignments and not for printing readings from class. Not only is this not environmentally sustainable, but it is also not financially feasible!

Enjoy!

 

Second attempt at a Google motion chart

Well, the quality isn't very good (very fuzzy), but the chart is much better than the last one I made. They data are time series data on faculty salaries against college tuition costs from 2000 to 2009. For some reason the html to embed the actual graph on this blog aren't work. Still, take a look:

Trinity is hiring!

As many students may know, Trinity College is in the process of hiring multiple new staff members. Right now we are searching for: a new Director of Institutional Research, and new Chief Information Officer, and a new Director of the Watkinson Library. These are huge positions on campus. Stay tuned!