DIG 2002 - Data Literacy & Visualization: Turning Data into Insights
Description
Across industries and roles, data appears in many forms, including performance reports, budget summaries, operational dashboards, customer metrics, and strategic updates. While access to data is widespread, using it to make sound decisions and communicate clearly requires deliberate practice and confidence.
This workshop builds foundational data literacy skills that support everyday managerial decisions. Participants learn to distinguish between raw data and meaningful insight, evaluate context and limitations, identify meaningful trends, and select visualizations that align with both purpose and audience.
Throughout the session, participants work with realistic business-style datasets and scenarios, including examples drawn from common spreadsheet outputs such as tables, charts, and summary reports. Activities emphasize interpretation, comparison of perspectives, and revision of communication approaches to strengthen both analytical judgment and clarity.
The workshop concludes with an applied exercise in which participants analyze a dataset, refine or select an appropriate visualization, and deliver a concise executive-style explanation supported by evidence.
Outline
HOUR 1: Welcome & Data Literacy Foundations: Thinking Clearly with Data
We begin by building a shared understanding of what data literacy really means for managers. This hour focuses on strengthening the thinking skills that prevent misinterpretation. Participants explore why data literacy matters in everyday decision-making, distinguish between data, information, and insight, and practice separating observation from interpretation while considering context, assumptions, bias, and correlation versus causation.
HOUR 2: Analyzing Data: Identifying Patterns, Trends, and Risk
Participants shift from simply reading data to actively analyzing it. The focus is on asking stronger questions, evaluating meaningful metrics, and identifying trends, outliers, and potential risks. Through structured dataset analysis, participants practice moving from numbers to informed, responsible managerial judgment.
HOUR 3: Data Visualization: Selecting and Improving Visuals
This hour explores how visualization choices shape understanding. Participants learn how to select visuals that match their message and audience, examine how design decisions influence interpretation, and revise unclear or misleading charts to improve clarity, accuracy, and credibility.
HOUR 4: Communicating Insights: From Data to Action
The final hour brings everything together. Participants translate their analysis into clear, data-supported recommendations. The emphasis is on structuring insights, adjusting communication for different audiences, and presenting findings responsibly. The workshop concludes with an applied exercise that reinforces how thoughtful data use supports confident, actionable decisions.
Program Objectives
By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to:
- Explain core data literacy concepts, including data types, context, and limitations.
- Interpret realistic datasets and discuss what the data shows.
- Analyze data scenarios to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
- Select appropriate visualization types based on data purpose and audience.
- Improve data visuals to increase clarity, accuracy, and understanding.
- Translate data findings into clear, actionable messages for workplace use.
Notes
Recommendations
We recommend this workshop for:
- Emerging professionals and frontline employees preparing for supervisory or managerial roles
- New or existing managers who use data to support reporting, planning, and decision-making
- Professionals who work with reports, dashboards, or spreadsheet-based data and want to better understand what the data shows and how to communicate insights clearly.
While familiarity with basic data layouts in spreadsheets is helpful, participants do not need prior training in MS Excel or Google Sheets to engage in this workshop.
Cyndi Landis is the User Experience and Outreach Librarian at Fort Hays State University, where she has spent nine years leveraging data analytics, brand strategy, and user-centered design to optimize events, communications, and outreach. She holds a bachelor’s degree in advertising and Spanish, a master’s degree in library science, and a graduate certificate in data analytics. Outside of work, Cyndi enjoys cooking, running, and spending time outdoors with her husband and four children.