• For Individuals
  • For Businesses
  • For Universities
  • For Governments
Coursera
Online Degrees
Careers
Log In
Join for Free
Coursera
University of Colorado Boulder
Essential Dashboarding & Storytelling Techniques
  • About
  • Outcomes
  • Modules
  • Recommendations
  • Testimonials
  1. Browse
  2. Business
  3. Business Essentials
University of Colorado Boulder

Essential Dashboarding & Storytelling Techniques

This course is part of Data Visualization & Analytics in Tableau Specialization

Kenneth Miller

Instructor: Kenneth Miller

Included with Coursera Plus

•Learn more
4 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace

4 modules
Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.
Intermediate level
Some related experience required
1 week to complete
at 10 hours a week
Flexible schedule
Learn at your own pace
  • About
  • Outcomes
  • Modules
  • Recommendations
  • Testimonials

What you'll learn

  • Identify basic chart types and when to use them.

  • Describe typical dashboard flow techniques to guide your viewer from one chart to the next.

  • Use charts to compare values and visualize distributions.

  • Explore dashboard interactivity using filters and parameters.

Skills you'll gain

  • Tableau Software
  • Dashboard
  • Scatter Plots
  • Data Visualization Software
  • Marketing Analytics
  • Data Presentation
  • Statistical Visualization
  • Interactive Data Visualization
  • Business Analytics
  • Data Storytelling
  • Histogram

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Recently updated!

April 2025

Assessments

3 assignments

Taught in English

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

Learn more about Coursera for Business
 logos of Petrobras, TATA, Danone, Capgemini, P&G and L'Oreal

Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Data Visualization & Analytics in Tableau Specialization
When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.
  • Learn new concepts from industry experts
  • Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
  • Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
  • Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 4 modules in this course

This intermediate Tableau course is recommended to learners with some Tableau knowledge. In it, we'll identify basic chart types and when to use them. Then we'll understand typical dashboard-flow techniques and understand how to implement them to guide your viewer from one chart to the next. We'll then start to understand how to use charts to compare values, visualize distributions, and we'll use filters and parameters to make cohesive and interactive dashboards.

Photo by Bilal Mansuri on Unsplash

In this module, we'll begin by comparing values to each other and relating parts of the data to the whole. From there, we'll move on to visualizing distribution and learn some more complex types of visualization.

What's included

5 videos3 readings2 assignments2 discussion prompts

5 videos•Total 76 minutes
  • Welcome to the Course!•2 minutes•Preview module
  • Comparing Values using Basic Charts•24 minutes
  • Expanding your Data using Simple Calculated Fields•15 minutes
  • Expanding your Data using Complex Calculated Fields•10 minutes
  • Visualizing Distributions in Tableau•22 minutes
3 readings•Total 40 minutes
  • Syllabus•10 minutes
  • Assessment Expectations•10 minutes
  • The Visual Perception of Variation in Data Displays by Stephen Few•20 minutes
2 assignments•Total 60 minutes
  • Quiz: Calculated Fields•30 minutes
  • Quiz: Distributions & Jittering•30 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 50 minutes
  • Create a Basic Chart•35 minutes
  • Discuss one dashboard from the Tableau Viz of the Day•15 minutes

In this module, we'll learn some dashboarding best practices and leverage shapes, formatting, and patterns to help your viewers better interpret your dashboards.

What's included

2 videos3 readings1 assignment1 discussion prompt

2 videos•Total 19 minutes
  • Dashboarding Best Practices•9 minutes•Preview module
  • Leveraging Formatting to Improve Dashboards•10 minutes
3 readings•Total 50 minutes
  • The Perceptual and Cognitive Limits of Multivariate Data Visualization by Stephen Few•30 minutes
  • What to Consider when Using Text in Data Visualizations by Lisa Charlotte Muth•10 minutes
  • Tell Powerful Stories with your Dashboard by using The F-Shaped Pattern•10 minutes
1 assignment•Total 30 minutes
  • Quiz: Dashboarding Best Practices & Formatting•30 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 15 minutes
  • Discuss one dashboard from the Tableau Viz of the Day•15 minutes

In this module, we'll create some dynamic dashboards that are full of life! We'll also explore the use of color, along with Tableau Stories.

What's included

2 videos2 readings1 discussion prompt

2 videos•Total 24 minutes
  • Dynamic Dashboards with Actions•12 minutes•Preview module
  • Dynamic Storytelling with Tableau Stories•11 minutes
2 readings•Total 25 minutes
  • How to Pick More Beautiful Colors for your Data Visualizations by Lisa Charlotte Muth•15 minutes
  • Best Practices for Telling Great Stories•10 minutes
1 discussion prompt•Total 30 minutes
  • Find a Visualization in the Wild and Discuss•30 minutes

In this module, we'll tackle more complicated methods of accomplishing dynamic dashboards using parameters.

What's included

3 videos1 peer review2 discussion prompts

3 videos•Total 26 minutes
  • Parameters for Dynamic Dashboards•15 minutes•Preview module
  • Dynamic Axes & Titles using Parameters•5 minutes
  • Skill Short: Animated Charts•4 minutes
1 peer review•Total 180 minutes
  • Peer Reviewed Dashboard Project•180 minutes
2 discussion prompts•Total 75 minutes
  • Create a Chart using a String Parameter•45 minutes
  • Find a Visualization in the Wild and Discuss•30 minutes

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

Kenneth Miller
Kenneth Miller
University of Colorado Boulder
3 Courses•456 learners

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

CU Boulder is a dynamic community of scholars and learners on one of the most spectacular college campuses in the country. As one of 34 U.S. public institutions in the prestigious Association of American Universities (AAU), we have a proud tradition of academic excellence, with five Nobel laureates and more than 50 members of prestigious academic academies.

Explore more from Business Essentials

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    U

    University of California, Davis

    Creating Dashboards and Storytelling with Tableau

    Course

  • C

    Coursera Project Network

    Tableau Public for Beginners: Data Visualization Basics

    Guided Project

  • Status: Preview
    Preview
    L

    LearnKartS

    Tableau for Data Visualization and Analysis

    Course

  • Status: Free Trial
    Free Trial
    C

    Corporate Finance Institute

    Tableau Fundamentals

    Course

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.
Learner since 2018
"To be able to take courses at my own pace and rhythm has been an amazing experience. I can learn whenever it fits my schedule and mood."
Jennifer J.
Learner since 2020
"I directly applied the concepts and skills I learned from my courses to an exciting new project at work."
Larry W.
Learner since 2021
"When I need courses on topics that my university doesn't offer, Coursera is one of the best places to go."
Chaitanya A.
"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."
Coursera Plus

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Unlimited access to 10,000+ world-class courses, hands-on projects, and job-ready certificate programs - all included in your subscription

Learn more

Advance your career with an online degree

Earn a degree from world-class universities - 100% online

Explore degrees

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Upskill your employees to excel in the digital economy

Learn more

Frequently asked questions

Access to lectures and assignments depends on your type of enrollment. If you take a course in audit mode, you will be able to see most course materials for free. To access graded assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience, during or after your audit. If you don't see the audit option:

  • The course may not offer an audit option. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid.

  • The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.

If you subscribed, you get a 7-day free trial during which you can cancel at no penalty. After that, we don’t give refunds, but you can cancel your subscription at any time. See our full refund policyOpens in a new tab.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

More questions

Visit the learner help center

Financial aid available,

Coursera Footer

Technical Skills

  • ChatGPT
  • Coding
  • Computer Science
  • Cybersecurity
  • DevOps
  • Ethical Hacking
  • Generative AI
  • Java Programming
  • Python
  • Web Development

Analytical Skills

  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data
  • Business Analysis
  • Data Analytics
  • Data Science
  • Financial Modeling
  • Machine Learning
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Power BI
  • SQL

Business Skills

  • Accounting
  • Digital Marketing
  • E-commerce
  • Finance
  • Google
  • Graphic Design
  • IBM
  • Marketing
  • Project Management
  • Social Media Marketing

Career Resources

  • Essential IT Certifications
  • High-Income Skills to Learn
  • How to Get a PMP Certification
  • How to Learn Artificial Intelligence
  • Popular Cybersecurity Certifications
  • Popular Data Analytics Certifications
  • What Does a Data Analyst Do?
  • Career Development Resources
  • Career Aptitude Test
  • Share your Coursera Learning Story

Coursera

  • About
  • What We Offer
  • Leadership
  • Careers
  • Catalog
  • Coursera Plus
  • Professional Certificates
  • MasterTrack® Certificates
  • Degrees
  • For Enterprise
  • For Government
  • For Campus
  • Become a Partner
  • Social Impact
  • Free Courses
  • ECTS Credit Recommendations

Community

  • Learners
  • Partners
  • Beta Testers
  • Blog
  • The Coursera Podcast
  • Tech Blog

More

  • Press
  • Investors
  • Terms
  • Privacy
  • Help
  • Accessibility
  • Contact
  • Articles
  • Directory
  • Affiliates
  • Modern Slavery Statement
  • Do Not Sell/Share
Learn Anywhere
Download on the App Store
Get it on Google Play
Logo of Certified B Corporation
© 2025 Coursera Inc. All rights reserved.
  • Coursera Facebook
  • Coursera Linkedin
  • Coursera Twitter
  • Coursera YouTube
  • Coursera Instagram
  • Coursera TikTok
Coursera

Welcome back

​
Your password is hidden
​

or

New to Coursera?


Having trouble logging in? Learner help center

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.