Write Better Data Stories

Section outline

• Course Overview

  Course Overview

  This course empowers you to effectively communicate data insights. You'll learn to navigate vast data sources, create impactful visualizations, and craft clear, compelling narratives. By mastering these skills, you'll be able to present data in a way that supports decision-making and inspires your audience, making complex information accessible and actionable. 

  Learning Outcomes

  This course will help you to:

  1. Identify what makes data communication effective 
  2. Use key strategies to tell a story with data 
  3. Identify your audience to communicate your data in a meaningful way 
  4. Communicate your data correctly within each section of a report 
  5. Take practical steps to create effective data visualizations 
• Course Instructor: Josh Brindley

  Course Instructor: Josh Brindley

  • Josh Brindley

    Josh Brindley, an expert in Data Visualization and Storytelling, has extensive experience navigating messy datasets, designing dashboards, and presenting insights. He has taught over 45,000 students through courses, workshops, and industry events, helping professionals revolutionize data presentation. As a corporate trainer and speaker, Josh has delivered talks to top industry associations and led workshops for businesses, transforming numbers into narratives that inspire action. He collaborates with teams across industries to turn mundane analysis into powerful stories that drive decisions. Passionate about bridging the gap between data and decision-making, Josh believes storytelling is a game-changer for any career, whether new to data or seasoned professionals.

    View Bio for Josh Brindley
• Pre-Course Self Assessment

  Pre-Course Self Assessment

  Before you dive into this course, spend a few moments reflecting on your familiarity with the topic and your current level of skills confidence. 

  You will then re-visit the same questions in our Post-Course Self Assessment and reflect on how the course has helped you develop in confidence and grow your skills. 
• Module One: Why Writing About Data Matters 

  Module One: Why Writing About Data Matters 

  

  This module will help you to:

  1. Recognize why it’s important to communicate effectively with data 
  2. Evaluate the role data plays in business and research 
  3. Identify what makes data communication effective 
  4. Use general tips for effective data visualizations 
• Module Two: Data Storytelling Through Writing 

  Module Two: Data Storytelling Through Writing 

  

  This module will help you to:

  1. Recognize the various mediums you can use to communicate data 
  2. Employ the key aspects of effective written data communication 
  3. Use key strategies to tell a story with data 
  4. Identify your audience to communicate your data in a meaningful way 
• Module Three: Writing Your Report 

  Module Three: Writing Your Report 

  

  This module will help you to:

  1. Write about data to develop an impactful report 
  2. Construct and write an effective methodology 
  3. Communicate your data correctly within each section of a report 
• Module Four: Adding Visuals to the Narrative 

  Module Four: Adding Visuals to the Narrative 

  

  This module will help you to:

  1. Take practical steps to create effective data visualizations 
  2. Apply those steps appropriately to your own data 
• Glossary of Key Terms

  Glossary of Key Terms

  In addition to the glossary you’ll find woven throughout the course, you can find the full glossary collated in one place here.
  
• Post-Course Self Assessment

  Post-Course Self Assessment

  Now you’ve completed the course, spend a few moments reflecting on where your familiarity with the topics and your confidence skills levels are at now. 

  Has the course helped you develop new skills and grow your confidence?

  You'll need to complete the Post-Course Self Assessment in order to download your certificate. If you didn't do the Pre-Course Self Assessment before starting the course, please go to the top of the page and reflect on your familiarity with the topic and your level of skills confidence before you started the course.
• Completion: Certificate

  Completion: Certificate

  Completing all modules (plus the pre and post-course assessments) will unlock the course certificate, which you can then download here. Your course certificate will only be made available once you have completed all these sections.

  If you have difficulty accessing your certificate, please contact the Sage support team at: onlinesupport@sagepub.co.uk. You can also check out this FAQ page which may be helpful.
• Give Feedback About This Course

  Give Feedback About This Course

  Did you enjoy the course? Please take two minutes to share your feedback. We use learner feedback in future course updates and developments to provide an excellent learning experience.
• Accessibility

  Accessibility

  We have high standards of accessibility on Sage Campus and as of May/June 2024 all activities within this course are keyboard and screen reader compatible. For more details on accessibility standards, please see the Sage Campus Accessibility Guide.

  For those using assistive technology, please note that within this course:

  • Tab components: JAWS and NVDA behave slightly differently. For NVDA to keep reading, it is best to exit focus mode and go back to browse mode. 
  • Matching: JAWS does not read out question label on dropdown focus.