Students now have a free, online resource for learning how to communicate effectively, and it’s all thanks to a Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) faculty-student collaboration.
Jennie Mitchell, emerita professor at SMWC and Trent Deckard, lecturer, Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business and SMWC doctoral student, released “Leveraging Data Visualization to Communicate Effectively” on the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI).
The free, online textbook teaches students how to use graphics to make information easier to see and understand. It includes help choosing the best visual formats, ways to avoid common errors and biases in data presentations, and offers hands-on experience with tools like Excel and Power BI, as well as other decision-support techniques.
“It is my hope that faculty and students will unlock the power of data with this free textbook,” Mitchell said. “This comprehensive guide empowers students to transform complex data into clear, impactful visual narratives, enhancing communication and decision-making through strategic design choices and practical experience.”
“In today’s fast-paced world, communicators have a plethora of tools at their disposal to convey crucial information,” Deckard added. “However, audiences are also bombarded with distractions that can hinder effective communication. This text acts as a trusted ally, helping users navigate through the noise and deliver their messages powerfully and persuasively.”
In 2023, Mitchell and Deckard received a PALSave Textbook Creation Grant for the project. Offered to faculty from PALNI-supported institutions, the grant allows educators to develop open textbooks that are freely available online, making them part of a nationwide effort to reduce the cost of course materials for college students. Each grant provides a maximum of $6,500 per project or $5,000 per author. Currently, 14 grant-funded titles have been published or are in production through PALNI.
“Dr. Mitchell has been a champion of all things open on our campus and has participated in virtually every PALSave initiative. She is a model of keeping affordability and student success at the center of her instructional work,” said Rusty Tryon, DMin, MLS, PALNI board director and director of the library and associate professor at SMWC. “I applaud Dr. Mitchell’s efforts to bring others alongside her in this important work, especially graduate students. She is training up a new generation of professors and instilling in them the value of open practices.”