CSEE professor Rebecca Williams will give a hybrid talk on Charting Student Misconceptions About Data Visualization hosted by UMBC DoIT’s Instruction Technology team from 12 to 1 p.m. EDT on Friday, May 2, in Engineering 102 and online. She will share the results and insights from ongoing work initiated through a UMBC Learning Analytics Fellowship award. Her project addresses persistent student misconceptions in data visualization courses, CMSC 436/636.

Using innovative teaching strategies, Professor Williams helps students learn to critically analyze, annotate, and critique diverse visualization examples beyond typical course materials. By incorporating deeper qualitative analysis, richer demographic data, and evaluating how student-created charts evolve over time, the project aims to enhance visual literacy and critical thinking skills significantly.

Her presentation will explore practical approaches to identifying and addressing student misconceptions, ideas for engaging students with foraging and curating their own learning examples, and gaining strategies applicable to enhancing visual literacy across various disciplines.