USC Libraries Data and Visualization Workshops

VKC Library offers a variety of workshops, events, and other outreach programming focusing on data, visualization, government information and collections housed within VKC Library and other libraries.

VKC Data and Visualization Workshop Series:

You are invited to attend a series of workshops focused on a range of data and visualization related topics, tools, and resources. The workshops are intended for both undergraduate and graduate students and faculty. Space is limited and you must RSVP. ***Please note you must bring your own laptop to these workshops.*** All workshops will be held in VKC MMR.

Upcoming Workshops:

Introduction to Data Sources - Wednesday, August 22, 2018, 11am-12pm 
VKC MMR
RSVP

Having trouble finding the data you need for your project? This workshop will describe the data landscape and give you tools to learn how to efficiently find data sources to suit your needs.

Learning Objective: Participants will understand how to access publically available data as well as data available through USC Libraries.
Keywords: data, open access, datasets

Introduction to OpenRefine - Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 10:30am - noon
VKC MMR
RSVP

Have you ever spent hours cleaning a large dataset with excel? This workshop will provide an introduction to OpenRefine, a powerful open source tool for exploring, cleaning, and manipulating "messy" data. This workshop will have several hands-on activities and a laptop is required to attend.

Learning Objective: Participants will learn how to explore and identify patterns in a dataset; normalize data using facets and clusters; manipulate and generate new textual and numeric data; transform and reshape datasets.
Keywords: datasets, data, open source. 

Finding Los Angeles Neighborhood Data -  Wednesday, September 5, 2018, 11-12pm
VKC MMR
RSVP

Find neighborhood statistics and data via USC Libraries databases (Social Explorer and Simplyanalytics) and publicly available tools like the Census American Factfinder and open data portals including Los Angeles Open Data. 

Learning Objective: Participants will understand how to navigate databases and open source data portals to find neighborhood statistics, data and maps. 
Keywords: statistics, data, mapping

Mapping with CARTO and Mapbox, Thursday, September 13, 2018, 11-12:30pm
VKC MMR
RSVP

This workshop will walk you through how to use Carto and Mapbox together to create interactive and compelling maps using a variety of data. 

Learning objective: Understand the basic functionality of these platforms and how they can be used together. Understand how to use and find GIS data. Walk away with a basic digital infrastructure in which you can plug-in your own research project. 

Keywords: digital mapping, digital humanities, web-mapping, open source

 

Homelessness: Finding Data and Using it to Promote Policy Change - Thursday, September 20, 2018, 11:30-12:30pm
Montgomery Ross Fisher Building (MRF) Hamovitch, 1st Floor
RSVP

Want to learn how to find and integrate data from sources such as foster care and healthcare systems to investigate the risk factors of homelessness and promote policy change? Gain skills on navigating data resources to effectively approach the social work grand challenge to end homelessness. Learn about basic mapping and visualization tools that will help you explore the data that you find. 

Learning Objective: Participants will be able to independently find and use data to address the social work grand challenge End Homelessness and promote policy change in that area.
Keywords: statistics, data, homelessness, healthcare, housing

Visualizing Los Angeles with Tableau, Tuesday, September 25th, 2018, 11-12:30pm
AFA Merendino Room
RSVP
 

In this workshop we will learn more about archival datasets offered through USC’s Digital Library, including the Wayne Thom Photography Collection, the Architectural Teaching Slide Collection, and the Robin Dunitz Mural Collection. Using Palladio and Tableau we will explore these datasets, learning more about them as research data and in turn we will learning more about the tools and what they offer in terms of analysis and visualization. *Please note this workshop takes place at the Art and Architecture Library’s Merendino Room.

Learning objective: Learn about various Los Angeles related datasets. Understand the basics steps of preparing data so that it can be used in different software. Learn how to visualize data in Palladio and Tableau.
Keywords: data visualization, Los Angeles, archives, collections as data

Introduction to SPSS - Wednesday, October 24, 2018, 11am - 1pm
VKC MMR
RSVP

This workshop will provide a basic overview of SPSS. Participants will understand how to access SPSS and how it compares to other statistical software like STATA, R, etc. Participants will learn how to import a file and view data; analyze data; and create basic graphs. This workshop will have hands-on activities and a laptop is required to attend. Required: Please have SPSS already installed on your computer before attending the workshop. 

Learning Objective: Participants will comprehend how to access SPSS and import data for analysis.
Keywords: statistics, dataset, statistical package

Introduction to R and data visualization - Thursday, October 25, 2018, 11am - 1pm
VKC MMR
RSVP

This workshop will be a basic introduction to using R for data visualizations.

Learning Objective: Be able to use R for basic data visualizations. 
Keywords: R, Rstudio, data visualization

Workshop requests

Students and faculty are encouraged to make workshop requests to learn more about specific tools or methods. Please use this form to make the request.