Crafting Data Stories Practice Exam

Crafting Data Stories Practice Exam

About the Crafting Data Stories Practice Exam

Crafting Data Stories involves transforming complex data into clear, engaging narratives that provide actionable insights. By combining data analysis, visualization, and storytelling techniques, this approach helps communicate trends, patterns, and key findings in a way that resonates with diverse audiences. Data storytelling makes insights more accessible and impactful, enabling better decision-making and sparking meaningful conversations in both business and research contexts.

Skills Required

• Basic programming skills in Python or R for data analysis and manipulation.
• Understanding of data manipulation using libraries like Pandas, NumPy, and SQL.
• Experience with data visualization tools like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Tableau.
• Foundation in basic statistics to understand data patterns and trends.
• Creative mindset to translate complex data into compelling narratives.
• Knowledge of business or research goals to align data insights with audience needs.

Knowledge Gained

In this course you will gain:

• Ability to analyze and manipulate data using Python or R for storytelling.
• Skills in creating effective data visualizations with tools like Matplotlib, Seaborn, or Tableau.
• Understanding of how to identify key trends, patterns, and insights from datasets.
• Knowledge of how to craft compelling narratives that communicate data-driven insights clearly and effectively.
• Expertise in aligning data stories with business or research objectives for impactful communication.
• Proficiency in using statistical methods to support and enhance data-driven storytelling.
• Ability to tailor data stories to different audiences, ensuring clarity and relevance.

Who should take the Exam?

• Aspiring data scientists and analysts who want to strengthen their ability to communicate data insights effectively.
• Business professionals looking to enhance their data storytelling skills for better decision-making and presentations.
• Data visualization experts who want to improve their ability to present complex data in a clear, engaging manner.
• Marketing and sales professionals aiming to use data-driven stories to inform strategy and connect with customers.
• Anyone looking to enhance their ability to tell compelling data stories in business, research, or academia.
• Students or professionals seeking to validate their skills in data analysis, visualization, and storytelling.

Course Outline

Welcome

• What you can expect & how to do this course [Text Lecture]
• What you can expect & how to do this course
• "I'm not a natural storyteller."

WHY: Data presentation mistakes you might be making

• The presentation I messed up
• Video: spot the presentation mistakes [Text Lecture]
• Create your own presentation baseline
• Create your own presentation baseline [Text Lecture]
• You are not alone: Buddy System

WHY: The Science of Storytelling

• Learn about the Neuroscience of Decision-Making [Text Lecture]
• Learn about the Neuroscience of Decision-Making
• Why Data Storytelling matters
• Why Data Storytelling matters [Text Lecture]
• My cousin who smoked cigarettes
• My cousin who smoked cigarettes [Text Lecture]

HOW: The first step of your Data Presentation

• GAME framework
• GAME framework [Text Lecture]
• Goal: use these 3 Storytelling Chemicals
• Goal: use these 3 Storytelling Chemicals [Text Lecture]
• Goal: determine the focus of your Data presentation
• Audience: ask these questions
• Audience: ask these questions [Text Lecture]
• Audience: 4 preferred ways of communication
• Audience: 4 preferred ways of communication [Text Lecture]
• Audience: get their buy-in with the IKEA effect
• Audience: get their buy-in with the IKEA effect [Text Lecture]
• Audience: think about what language they speak
• Audience: think about what language they speak [Text Lecture]
• Audience: The Curse of Knowledge
• Message & Expression
• Exercise: use the GAME framework in practice

HOW: Creating a Good Story

• What's a good story? Introducing the ABT framework
• Applying the ABT framework in Data & Analytics
• Exercise: create your own ABT story
• Exercise: create your own ABT story [Text Lecture]
• How to visualize your ABT story [Text Lecture 1]
• How to visualize your ABT story
• How to visualize your ABT story [Text Lecture 2]
• ABT framework - how to practice in real life
• The ABT framework - more resources
• Shark tank pitch (spot the storytelling elements)

HOW: Building your Data Story

• How to create an effective Data storyline
• Case 1 - introduction
• Case 1 - introduction [Text Lecture]
• Case 1 - solution
• Case 1 - solution [Text Lecture]
• Characters in your Data Story
• Characters in your Data Story [Text lecture]
• Case 2 - introduction
• Case 2 - introduction [Text lecture]
• Case 2 - solution
• Case 2 - solution [Text lecture]
• Data trailer
• Pyramid Principle
• Pyramid Principle [Text lecture]

HOW: Using PowerPoint Effectively

• Funeral for your darlings: choose the right insights
• Funeral for your darlings: choose the right insights [Text lecture]
• How to avoid overwhelming your audience (examples)
• How to avoid overwhelming your audience (examples) [Text lecture]
• Death by PowerPoint (TED talk)
• How to deal with people asking to send the presentation

HOW: The Days Before Your Presentation

• Revision: How to practice your presentation
• Revision: which part to practice most?
• How to deal with presentation stress: 2 mindsets

HOW: Presenting with Impact

• Do a visual and auditory assessment
• The Verbal Cliffhanger: how to keep your audience engaged
• How to get rid of filler words (the UHMs, and AHs)
• Voice: tip for speaking more clearly
• Voice: How NOT to talk in your presentation (uptalk)
• Voice: How NOT to talk in your presentation (uptalk) [Text Lecture]
• Body language: two tips you haven't heard before
• Own the stage (walk around, come closer)
• Tip for remote presentations
• How to use metaphors

BONUS: How to make insights more persuasive

• Talk benefits, not features
• Loss Aversion
• Loss Aversion [Text Lecture]
• How to present numbers (book summary)
• 7 principles to make your ideas stick [Text Lecture]

BONUS: Effective Data Visualization

• Data Visualization best practices
• Chart Junk
• The Power of Chart Titles
• Data Visualization example: A Day in the Life of 1,000 Americans
• 6 Data Visualization lessons from 1 image
• Choose your chart
• Dashboard design

More resources

• How to find more stories in your life [Text Lecture 1]
• How to find more stories in your life
• How to find more stories in your life [Text Lecture 2]
• 7 TED Talks in 7 days to become a confident speaker!
• Famous meme - 5 hidden lessons for Data Storytelling [Text Lecture]
• My book - People Skills for Analytical Thinkers [Text Lecture]
• Group coaching call - April 18th 2023
• Group coaching call - April 18th 2023 [Text Lecture]
• Data Storytelling with the ABT framework
• Data Storytelling: When and how to communicate
• Book Recommendations 
• Analyze your growth: before vs. After

Evaluate your next presentation

• Closing

Asking a favor

• Asking a favor [Text Lecture]
• Don't end here: Tips for next steps