Lab 5: Portfolio Dashboard

STAT 80B - Data Visualization

Author

Dr. Marcela Alfaro CΓ³rdoba

Overview

Points: 10
Due: Thursday, Week 9 β€” submitted on Canvas by midnight
Work alone (individual assignment)

In this lab, you will revisit and improve the visualizations you created in Labs 2–4, then assemble them into a single cohesive dashboard. This is a chance to apply everything you have learned this semester β€” and to produce something you can genuinely be proud to share.

The goal is not to start from scratch. It is to look at your own work with a critical eye, respond to instructor feedback, and present your best revised versions together.

What to Submit

Your submission depends on the tool(s) you have been using:

Your primary tool Dashboard format What to submit
R R Markdown (.Rmd) rendered to HTML or PDF Upload the rendered file to Canvas
Tableau Tableau Story Publish to Tableau Public and submit the link
Python Jupyter Notebook or Quarto (.qmd) rendered to HTML Upload the rendered file to Canvas
Mixed Match the tool used for most of your labs When in doubt, ask on Ed Discussion

Filename (R / Python): LastName_FirstName_Lab5.html (or .pdf)
Tableau: Paste your Tableau Public link in the Canvas text box.

Step 0 β€” Review Your Instructor Feedback

Before touching any code or Tableau file, go back and read the feedback comments on Labs 2, 3, and 4 on Canvas.

For each lab, note:

  • What specific problem did the instructor identify?
  • What change would fix it?

You do not need to submit these notes, but they will guide everything that follows.

Common feedback themes to look for
  • Axis labels missing or unclear
  • Color choices that are inaccessible or arbitrary
  • Chart type that doesn’t match the data or question
  • Missing or misleading titles
  • Overplotting or visual clutter
  • Proportional ink violations (e.g., truncated y-axes, 3D effects)

Part 1 β€” Revised Visualizations

Revise each of the four charts from Labs 2–4, addressing the instructor feedback you identified in Step 0.

For each revised chart, include:

  1. The revised chart itself
  2. A brief caption (2–3 sentences) explaining what you changed and why

Your caption should be specific about what feedback you addressed:

❌ Vague: β€œI improved the colors.”
βœ… Specific: β€œInstructor feedback noted the rainbow palette made it hard to compare groups. I replaced it with a two-color colorblind-safe palette (blue/orange) since only two categories needed to be distinguished.”

What if I disagree with the feedback?

That is okay β€” and intellectually honest. If you believe your original design choice was correct, explain your reasoning in the caption instead of making the change. Connect your argument to a course concept (e.g., β€œI kept the log scale because the data spans three orders of magnitude, which Wilke Chapter 17 addresses directly.”). You will not lose points for disagreeing, as long as you engage thoughtfully with the feedback.

Part 2 β€” Dashboard Assembly

Combine all four revised charts into a single dashboard or compiled document.

Requirements:

  • All four charts must appear together in one file or Tableau Story
  • Each chart must have a title and be clearly labeled (e.g., β€œLab 2 —”, β€œLab 3 —”)
  • The dashboard must have an overall title that describes the collection (e.g., β€œSTAT 80B Data Visualization Portfolio β€” [Your Name]”)
  • Charts should be arranged so a viewer can read through them naturally β€” think about order and grouping
R Markdown dashboard structure

A simple R Markdown layout that works well:

---
title: "STAT 80B Portfolio"
output: 
  html_document:
    toc: true
---

## Lab 2 β€” [Short title]

[Your revised chart code here]

*Caption: What you changed and why.*

## Lab 3 β€” [Short title]

...

For a more polished layout, the flexdashboard package supports multi-column and multi-row arrangements. It is optional but worth exploring.

Tableau Story setup

In Tableau Desktop:

  1. Click the New Story tab at the bottom
  2. Drag each revised worksheet or dashboard into a story point
  3. Add a caption to each story point describing the chart
  4. Title the Story with your name and course
  5. Publish to Tableau Public (Server β†’ Tableau Public β†’ Save to Tableau Public)

Part 3 β€” Reflection

Write a short reflection of 4–6 sentences total addressing both prompts below.

1. What did you learn from the revision process?
Looking back at Labs 1–4 with fresh eyes, what surprised you? Was there a design mistake you hadn’t noticed before? Did the instructor feedback change how you think about any particular concept?

2. How has your approach to visualization changed over the semester?
Compare how you would approach building a chart now versus at the start of the course. Reference at least two specific concepts from the course (e.g., from Wilke’s book or lecture topics) that now feel like second nature.

Grading Rubric

Part Points What earns full credit
1. Revised visualizations 4 All three charts revised; each has a specific caption addressing instructor feedback
2. Dashboard assembly 3 All three charts in one file/Story; titles and labels present; logical arrangement
3. Reflection 2 4–6 sentences; two course concepts referenced; genuine engagement with the revision process
Formatting / submission 1 Correct filename or Tableau Public link; all parts labeled; renders without errors
Total 10

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I lost my original Lab files?
Check your Canvas submission history β€” your submitted files are still there. Download and use those as your starting point. If you are truly stuck, post on Ed Discussion.

Do I need to use the same tool I used originally for each lab?
Yes β€” revise each chart in whatever tool you originally used. The dashboard should be assembled in your primary tool (R Markdown or Tableau Story).

My Lab 2 chart was done in Tableau but I mostly use R now β€” what do I do?
Recreate the Lab 2 chart in R, incorporate the feedback, and include it in your R Markdown dashboard. This is acceptable and will not be penalized.

What if my original chart no longer loads or the data file is missing?
Re-download the original dataset (all lab datasets are still available on Canvas) and rebuild from there.

Does the dashboard need to be interactive?
No β€” static charts are fine. Interactivity is a bonus, not a requirement.

How do I submit for Tableau?
Publish your Story to Tableau Public, copy the public URL, and paste it into the Canvas submission text box. Do not just upload the .twbx file.