Getting Help
The class staff are very committed to your learning. We’re here to help you, and we offer the following resources to support you:
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For administrative questions (e.g., regarding due dates, or interpreting assignment instructions); for technical questions about programming or the technology stack; for questions about ideas taught in lecture or broader questions about visualization, data analysis, and design: post publicly in the appropriate category of the class forum. This ensures that our answer will benefit the entire class!
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For help when you’re feeling confused on data analysis, visualization design, or programming issues, can’t formulate a question, or would like advice about your work: go to office hours (schedule posted below). Please do not email the TAs individually to ask for help.
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For a personal issue about grading, attendance, or team issues: send an email to the staff mailing list, vis-society-staff@mit.edu
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For a private problem or for friendly live advice: email the lecturers—we’d be delighted to chat with you!
Office Hours
Course Staff
Instructors
Arvind Satyanarayan
Hi folks, I’m Arvind (he/him) and a faculty member in computer science. I lead the MIT Visualization Group where we study various aspects of data visualization including developing new tools for authoring visualizations, applying visualization to interpret machine learning models, and studying how to make visualizations accessible to blind and low vision people. I’m excited for our semester together because Sarah and I have spent a lot of time thinking about how to integrate our classes together so that you both learn core ideas of effective visualization, and then get to apply them in the context of a timely and important real-world issue with social impact. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all — please don’t be a stranger! And, feel free to reach out if you’d ever like to chat (about the class, or other things more generally)!
Catherine D’Ignazio
Hello everyone! I’m Catherine (she/her/ella) and I’m a professor of Urban Science & Planning in Course 11 (Dept of Urban Studies and Planning). I also run the Data + Feminism Lab where we use data and computation to work towards gender and racial justice, especially related to space and place. Some of our big projects right now look at citizen data science and grassroots data activism on topics like gender-related violence, housing, and reproductive justice. I’m always interested in thinking about and talking about how we can use data - and especially data visualization – for positive social change. If these are themes that interest you, too, you might be interested in the 11-6 major, in which we combine urban planning and computer science. Outside of work, I care for my three kids and two giant Maine Coon cats. I also love being outdoors - running, ultimate frisbee, camping and more. Looking forward to getting to meet everyone and see what kinds of projects you will put together!