Category: Marissa Block

Progress Memo

Posted on Author Marissa Block

Now that I am halfway through the semester, I am still working to fulfill the initial data visualization priorities we determined in the beginning of the semester. Our first priority was to create a map displaying the distribution of HPS-run schools and include achievement data. Thus far, I have been able to produce a two-layered map with data points of schools that are color-coded based on the CMT proficiency of that school. There are also outlines of the four school zones, so viewers can easily visualize which schools are in which zones. Now that I have figured out how to create the legend, I can move forward with making a map for the CAPT proficiency for HPS-run high schools. In mapping the high schools, I have run across the issue of multiple high school’s at the same address, so when you click on the data point, you only see one school (ex. Engineering, Law & Gov, and Nursing are all coded with the same address). Once this issue is resolved, the map should be fairly easy to complete. Finally, since we now have a workable template for a searchable feature from Derek Eder, I should be able to now include this.

Update by Jack on March 18th: To illustrate what Marissa wrote above, I have pasted the embed code from her post last week

After listening to Alvin Chang discuss his methods of data visualization, I found his suggestion of making sure you understand what your question is very helpful. When I initially began creating the map, I understood what it showed, but I wasn’t entirely clear on the particular story we wanted to show. After speaking with Rob about this, we determined that the main question for the maps is whether one zone has better choice options than another. I feel more confident moving forward now that I have this question in mind.

The second priority involves interactive line charts that display achievement data over the span of five or six years, enabling viewers to see each school’s progression. The first priority for charts is to create one for cohorts. At the moment, Achieve Hartford has static line graphs that shows cohort progression for each school, but with the help of interactive visualization tools, Rob and I would like to have one line chart to compare different schools. Since one line chart with the 30+ schools on it would be way to cluttered, we determined it would be better to have a checkbox feature that enables the viewer to select specific school’s, or two drop down boxes for viewers to select two specific schools. I would like to have the Hartford average permanent on all graphs, so viewers could compare two schools, but also specific schools to Hartford overall. Once I am able to create this chart, it should be relatively easy to create a second interactive chart that better displays the achievement data across time from the maps.

Updated Map: Part 2

Posted on Author Marissa Block

In building on the map I created last week, I was able to use HTML code to include a legend to the map I created through the Layer Wizard. I still want to add several features, but it is definitely an improvement from the very first map I made. Eventually I would like a drop down menu so viewers can switch through the years. Right now, the map displays data from 2013, but if you click on one of the school’s, you can see the percentage of students who are proficient from 2007-2013. Switching between years would allow viewers to see how each school has progressed over time.

Update to last week’s maps

Posted on Author Marissa Block

The maps below are an updated version of last week’s maps, using the Google Fusion Tables Layer Wizard. The maps are a combination of polygons and points, and shows the four Hartford school zones superimposed on the point map. The Layer Wizard is somewhat limiting as it does not offer an easy solution to include a legend. There is a help section that provides the html code for legends, but never having worked with coding before, I am slow to figure it out.

***Maps to come — Issue with hosting HTML on Google Drive

http://marissablock23.github.io/AchHart/

Experimenting with Google Fusion Tables

Posted on Author Marissa Block

The data visualization below incorporates two sets of data: the geographical location of the schools operated by the Hartford Public School system and the achievement characteristics of each school, that is the percentage of students who met the proficient level on state tests in each school. As the legend suggests, red schools are the worst performing while green schools are the highest performing. The schools are divided based on data from 2013, but by clicking on the school, the viewer can observe the percentage of students at proficient from 2007-2013. This map easily lets viewers identify the locations of high performing schools and if participating in the Open Choice program, parents can gauge the distance from their home to their preferred school choice. Of course, this use will further be enhanced once I am able to include a searchable feature, which I provided a link for in my last post.

However, data can be misleading, and as Jack commented in my previous post, achievement data is not directly linked to the students which reside in that area because of the Open Choice program, which allows students to apply to attend any one of the HPS-run schools. Furthermore, the map does not fully highlight the progress from 2007-2013, and so one could assume that low-performing schools have always been low-performing schools, without clicking on each data point. For example, in 2007 36.4% of students at ML King met proficient. The school has steadily improved, and in 2013 57.2% of students met proficient. If this progress was more easily visible, a viewer might conclude that ML King has found a successful method to improve achievement, and further improvement is likely. To highlight progress, an interactive chart might best complement the map, or even a time slide feature in which viewers can select the year, and the achievement data will adjust accordingly.

 

This second map is very similar to the one above, but shows CAPT scores, which is the state test taken by students in Grade 10. As a result, the markers only represent high schools.


 

Data Viz Agenda for Achieve Hartford

Posted on Author Marissa Block

After meeting with Rob from Achieve Hartford this week, we’ve determined an initial agenda to work with in the upcoming weeks. For now, most of the data I will be working with is achievement related, usually test scores from the state tests. The first task involves building on the interactive map I created last week, but this time including achievement data. More specifically, the map will show the distribution of schools based on the percentage of students at each school at the proficient level on the CMT (Connecticut Mastery Test) and CAPT (Connecticut Academic Performance Test). This will allow viewers to easily visualize graphically where the better performing schools are located.

Eventually, it would be good to incorporate several years worth of this data, and then create a visual progression over time, to determine if the higher performing schools are consistent across years, or if there are any dramatic changes within schools across years. This interactive school finder is more detailed than the map I made in my previous post, as it lets individuals search for specific schools in the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, meaning individuals can type in their own address and see what schools are in their immediate vicinity. Additionally, I’m hoping to add an outline of the boundaries of Hartford and possibly the boundaries of the four school zones located within the city. BatchGeo seems to be limited in this respect.

The second priority is to create an interactive chart of each schools achievement progression overtime through CMT scores. The primary interactive feature would be the ability for the viewer to select the characteristics they are interested in, such as the specific school names or types of schools (magnet or district) he or she is interested in rather than viewing a massive chart of the 30+ schools in the HPS system. A second chart would be designed in a similar manner, but would look at the achievement progression of cohorts of students.

Something along the lines of this interactive visualization in the following link: Interactive Chart Example