Unit rationale, description and aim
The increasing use of digital technologies has resulted in generation and storage of vast amount of data. Data needs to be processed to provide valuable insights that enable improved decisions, processes, products or services. Hence, increasingly, organisations need people with the ability to extract, consolidate, analyse data from diverse sources and present information generated from data in an insightful manner, such as visualisations.
In this unit you will learn the skills in data management and visualisation to capture, store, model, transform, analyse and visualise data to extract ‘meaning’ (i.e., comprehensible and useable information) from raw datasets. Also, you will learn how to apply data visualisation methods and tools that enable presentation of large volumes of data including geodata for decision makers to easily identify underlining patterns. This unit is designed in alignment with Microsoft’s curriculum and provides a pathway to the Microsoft Power Platform Fundamentals certification.
The primary aim of this unit is to equip students with the data management and data visualisation knowledge and skills required to solve the real-world data problems, including data-driven solutions to support our responsibility to the common good, the environment and society.
Learning outcomes
To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.
Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.
Explore the graduate capabilities.
Describe business value and various tools for data...
Learning Outcome 01
Integrate existing data from multiple sources into...
Learning Outcome 02
Apply data management and visualisation tools and ...
Learning Outcome 03
Create intelligible and insightful data visualisat...
Learning Outcome 04
Content
Topics will include:
- Data visualisation concepts and principles
- Introduction to Microsoft Power Platform Creating data-driven apps in Microsoft Power Apps for capturing data
- Managing data using Microsoft Dataverse
- Prepare Data for Analysis
- Model Data in Power BI
- Visualise data in Power BI
- Data Analysis in Power BI
- Connecting and merging multiple data sources
- Different types of data visualisations and their purpose
- Reports and dashboards
- Visualising geodata
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Microsoft Power Virtual Agents
- Social and environmental applications of Data Analytics and Visualisation
Assessment strategy and rationale
To pass this unit, students are required to achieve an aggregate mark of at least 50%. Marking will be in accordance with a rubric specifically developed to measure the level of achievement of the learning outcomes for each item of assessment.
Assessment methods incorporate problem-based tasks, case studies and practical/hands-on tasks that are relevant to the real-world needs. The first assessment provides students with an opportunity to perform various data analytics and visualisations tasks in the lab. Assessment 2 allows students to demonstrate the depth of their knowledge and understanding of database technology concepts and tools through Microsoft Certification Exam. In assessment task 3, students will apply the knowledge and practical skills they have gained in the unit to implement data visualisation for a given case study to satisfy the needs of different stakeholders. The aim of this assignment is to equipment students with the skills of creating novel data visualisations to effectively reveal the narratives behind the data
Overview of assessments
Assessment 1: Developmental Exercises This asses...
Assessment 1: Developmental Exercises
This assessment consists of a series of exercises, including data analytics and visualisation using the Microsoft PowerBI & other Power Platform tools.
The feedback from this assessment will help students to be ready to apply the concepts in the next assessments.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Practical task
Artefact: Program Files
25%
Assessment Task 2: Certification Exam This asses...
Assessment Task 2: Certification Exam
This assessment task requires student to undertake PL-900: Microsoft Power Platform Fundamental Certification Exam.
The exam assesses students’ foundational knowledge of core concepts of data visualisation and how they are implemented using Microsoft Power Platform.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Exam
Artefact: Certification
35%
Assessment Task 3: Data Visualisation Project T...
Assessment Task 3: Data Visualisation Project
This assessment is designed to implement data visualisation for a given case study. Students will analyse data and create a number of charts/dashboards to provide insight into the problems outlined in the case study and demonstrate the application of data visualisation for preservation of the common good, environment and society.
To ensure academic integrity student are required to present their work in class or record and submit a video presentation and complete an online Viva activity.
Submission Type: Individual
Assessment Method: Practical task
Artefact: Program file + Presentation (7-10 minutes) + Online Viva
40%
Learning and teaching strategy and rationale
This unit is delivered through Attendance and Online modes using a single, integrated learning and teaching strategy designed to ensure equivalent learning outcomes and a comparable learning experience for all students, while supporting diverse learning needs and maximising access.
Across both modes, learning activities are intentionally aligned to the unit learning outcomes and assessment tasks, and are underpinned by active learning, guided engagement with disciplinary knowledge, opportunities for peer interaction, and regular, timely feedback. While the mode of delivery shapes how students participate, the pedagogical intent, expectations and standards remain consistent.
In Attendance mode, students engage in weekly face-to-face classes at designated locations, supported by preparatory activities prior to workshops and opportunities for consolidation following classes. Online learning platforms are used to complement face-to-face teaching through additional resources and learning activities.
In Online mode, students engage with the same core content and learning outcomes through a combination of synchronous and asynchronous activities, including structured discussions and applied learning tasks that support learning in professional contexts.
Across both delivery modes, students should plan to commit approximately 150 hours to this unit over the semester, including participation in learning activities, independent study, readings and assessment preparation.