Module 1: Introduction to Data Visualisation and Tableau
Limitations of tabular analysis
How Tableau can help
Principles of visual perception
Connecting to data: static files and external sources
The Data Source window
Data preview
Visual cues: the role of icons in Tableau
Selecting data types
Pivoting options
Split and merge functions
Aliases
Learning Outcomes:
Understand what types of tasks Tableau can support
Modify data types, pivot or split data, and configure aliases
Module 2: The Tableau Interface – Worksheets
Dimensions and Measures
Discrete vs Continuous variables
Pages, Filters, Marks pane
Data organisation: groups, hierarchies, sets
Columns, Rows; show/hide options
Sorting and default values
5 ways to create a bar chart in Tableau
Best practices for colour use
Highlighting function
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the difference between Dimensions and Measures, Discrete and Continuous variables
Create groups and hierarchies
Filter and sort data
Set default values
Create bar charts and highlight key elements in a visual
Module 3: Filters, Aggregations, Axes, and Time Visualisation
Understanding time in Tableau
Date types and filters
Custom dates
Data aggregation
Visualisations using discrete vs continuous values (e.g. panel charts)
Using multiple measures
Combined axis charts (Measure Names, Measure Values)
Dual-axis charts
Relationships between numeric fields (e.g. scatterplots) and levels of detail
Learning Outcomes:
Understand the difference between Date Part and Date Value
Grasp types of data aggregation
Build combined axis and dual-axis charts
Module 4: Working with Multiple Data Sources
Adding totals and subtotals in tables
Joins, Unions, and Blends
Primary data source
Live connection vs Data Extract
Difference between Join and Relationship
Learning Outcomes:
Add and format totals in tables
Understand and apply Join, Union, Blend, and Relationship
Compare Live vs Extract connections and their pros and cons
Module 5: Calculated Fields and Parameters
Creating calculated fields
Date-related calculations
Ad-hoc calculations
Calculations within Joins/Relationships
Level of Detail (LOD) calculations
Quick Table Calculations
Parameters: 7 use cases
Learning Outcomes:
Create calculated fields
Use Level of Detail expressions
Create and apply parameters
Module 6: Building Visualisations in Tableau
Why tables are not data visualisations
The "Gateway Drug" to data visualisation
Visual types:
KPI Cards (BANs)
Bar/Lollipop charts
Line/Area charts
Heatmap/Treemap
Scatter/Bubble charts
Strip/Jitter plots
Slope charts
Dot/Comet charts
Geographical maps
Tableau Community Projects: MakeoverMonday, WorkoutWednesday, RWFD
Learning Outcomes:
Create various types of visualisations
Apply best practices for chart selection
Build visuals for 90% of common use cases
Module 7: Comparisons and Order of Operations
Comparing two groups (Bar charts)
Comparing to a reference value (Bullet chart)
Sets vs Filters
Subgroup vs total comparisons
Hiding data
Filter context
Order of operations in Tableau
Top N visualisation
Nested sorting
Learning Outcomes:
Build Bar-in-Bar, Paired Column, and Bullet charts
Understand the difference between sets and filters
Use context filters
Master Tableau’s order of operations and sorting logic
Module 8: Distributions and the Analytics Pane
Distributions:
Histograms
Box-and-Whisker plots
Analytics pane tools:
Trend lines
Forecasting
Predictions in Tableau
Clustering
Learning Outcomes:
Group data and create histograms
Use the Analytics pane tools
Generate predictions and perform clustering in Tableau
Module 9: Dashboards and Presentations
Dashboards:
“Guided Analytics” – 5 types of dashboards
Stories in Tableau
Dashboard Actions
Device layouts
Dashboard elements
Floating vs tiled layouts
User access and permissions
Data refresh schedules
Learning Outcomes:
Create dashboards and presentations with device-specific layouts
Configure dashboard actions
Manage user access rights and schedule data refreshes
Module 10: Geographic Analysis
Types of maps and geographic fields
Customising geographic fields
Integration with Mapbox
Spatial functions: MAKEPOINT, MAKELINE, BUFFER, DISTANCE
Adding multiple spatial layers from different data sources
Learning Outcomes:
Build interactive maps
Understand geographic fields in Tableau
Integrate with Mapbox for custom maps
Use basic spatial functions
Layer spatial data from multiple sources
Final Workshop & Wrap-up
Recap of key content
Q&A, Tableau Doctor, Live Demo
Feedback for students who built projects during the course
Suggested readings and further learning resources