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Be the Data: Embodied Visual Analytics | IEEE Journals & Magazine | IEEE Xplore

Abstract:

With the rise of big data, it is becoming increasingly important to educate groups of students at many educational levels about data analytics. In particular, students wi...Show More

Abstract:

With the rise of big data, it is becoming increasingly important to educate groups of students at many educational levels about data analytics. In particular, students without a strong mathematical background may have an unenthusiastic attitude towards high-dimensional data and find it challenging to understand relevant complex analytical methods, such as dimension reduction. In this paper, we present an embodied approach for visual analytics designed to teach students about exploring alternative 2D projections of high-dimensional data points using weighted multidimensional scaling. We propose a novel concept, Be the Data, to explore the possibilities of using human's embodied resources to learn from high-dimensional data. In our implemented system, each student embodies a data point, and the position of students in a physical space represents a 2D projection of the high-dimensional data. Students physically move within the room with respect to each other to collaboratively construct alternative projections and receive visual feedback about relevant data dimensions. In this way, students can pose hypotheses about the data to discover the statistical support as well as learn about complex concepts such as high-dimensional distance. We conducted educational workshops with students in various age groups inexperienced in complex data analytical methods. Our findings indicate that Be the Data provided the necessary engagement to enable students to quickly learn about high-dimensional data and analysis processes despite their minimal prior knowledge.
Published in: IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies ( Volume: 11, Issue: 1, 01 Jan.-March 2018)
Page(s): 81 - 95
Date of Publication: 28 September 2017

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Bloomberg, New York, NY
Xin Chen received the MS degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016 and the PhD degree in instructional design and technology. She is currently a research software engineer at Bloomberg.
Xin Chen received the MS degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016 and the PhD degree in instructional design and technology. She is currently a research software engineer at Bloomberg.View more
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, US
Jessica Zeitz Self received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. She is an assistant professor of computer science with the University of Mary Washington.
Jessica Zeitz Self received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. She is an assistant professor of computer science with the University of Mary Washington.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Leanna House received the PhD degree in statistics from Duke University. She is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech, and deputy director of the Computation Modeling and Data Analytics degree program.
Leanna House received the PhD degree in statistics from Duke University. She is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech, and deputy director of the Computation Modeling and Data Analytics degree program.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
John Wenskovitch received the bachelor's degree in software engineering from Gannon University and the master's degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is working toward the graduate degree in computer science with Virginia Tech.
John Wenskovitch received the bachelor's degree in software engineering from Gannon University and the master's degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is working toward the graduate degree in computer science with Virginia Tech.View more
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, US
Maoyuan Sun received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is an assistant professor in the Computer and Information Science Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Maoyuan Sun received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is an assistant professor in the Computer and Information Science Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Nathan Wycoff received the BSc degree in statistics from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is working toward the graduate degree in statistics with Virginia Tech.
Nathan Wycoff received the BSc degree in statistics from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is working toward the graduate degree in statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Jane Robertson Evia received the PhD degree in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an assistant professor of practice in statistics with Virginia Tech.
Jane Robertson Evia received the PhD degree in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an assistant professor of practice in statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Scotland Leman received the MS degree in computational engineering from Stanford University and the PhD degree from the Department of Statistical Science, Duke University. He is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech.
Scotland Leman received the MS degree in computational engineering from Stanford University and the PhD degree from the Department of Statistical Science, Duke University. He is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Chris North received the PhD degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a professor of computer science with Virginia Tech, and associate director of the Discovery Analytics Center.
Chris North received the PhD degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a professor of computer science with Virginia Tech, and associate director of the Discovery Analytics Center.View more

Bloomberg, New York, NY
Xin Chen received the MS degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016 and the PhD degree in instructional design and technology. She is currently a research software engineer at Bloomberg.
Xin Chen received the MS degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016 and the PhD degree in instructional design and technology. She is currently a research software engineer at Bloomberg.View more
University of Mary Washington, Fredericksburg, VA, US
Jessica Zeitz Self received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. She is an assistant professor of computer science with the University of Mary Washington.
Jessica Zeitz Self received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. She is an assistant professor of computer science with the University of Mary Washington.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Leanna House received the PhD degree in statistics from Duke University. She is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech, and deputy director of the Computation Modeling and Data Analytics degree program.
Leanna House received the PhD degree in statistics from Duke University. She is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech, and deputy director of the Computation Modeling and Data Analytics degree program.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
John Wenskovitch received the bachelor's degree in software engineering from Gannon University and the master's degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is working toward the graduate degree in computer science with Virginia Tech.
John Wenskovitch received the bachelor's degree in software engineering from Gannon University and the master's degree in computer science from the University of Pittsburgh. He is working toward the graduate degree in computer science with Virginia Tech.View more
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, Dartmouth, MA, US
Maoyuan Sun received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is an assistant professor in the Computer and Information Science Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.
Maoyuan Sun received the PhD degree in computer science from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is an assistant professor in the Computer and Information Science Department, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Nathan Wycoff received the BSc degree in statistics from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is working toward the graduate degree in statistics with Virginia Tech.
Nathan Wycoff received the BSc degree in statistics from Virginia Tech, in 2016. He is working toward the graduate degree in statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Jane Robertson Evia received the PhD degree in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an assistant professor of practice in statistics with Virginia Tech.
Jane Robertson Evia received the PhD degree in educational psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an assistant professor of practice in statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Scotland Leman received the MS degree in computational engineering from Stanford University and the PhD degree from the Department of Statistical Science, Duke University. He is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech.
Scotland Leman received the MS degree in computational engineering from Stanford University and the PhD degree from the Department of Statistical Science, Duke University. He is an associate professor of statistics with Virginia Tech.View more
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, US
Chris North received the PhD degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a professor of computer science with Virginia Tech, and associate director of the Discovery Analytics Center.
Chris North received the PhD degree in computer science from the University of Maryland, College Park. He is a professor of computer science with Virginia Tech, and associate director of the Discovery Analytics Center.View more
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