5 Tableau Courses to Create Stunning Visualizations for Data Storytellers

Data forms the backbone of every business entity. Translating value out of data and then finding understandable insights to communicate to your target audience requires a lot of work. You cannot simply show rows and rows of numbers across spreadsheets to your target audience and expect them to understand the data. Data storytelling is crucial when communicating information tailored towards a target audience. 

However, when data is represented through storytelling, it is easier for people to make sense of that information and act appropriately. Storytelling with interactive visualization further piques audience engagement. Keep in mind that unless data is understood and convincing, nobody will act upon it, and therefore nothing will change.

Data storytelling has been, is, and will continue to be one of the most powerful means of instructing, explaining, and influencing a targeted audience or desired action. Tableau has been one of the most effective tools for data storytelling and is crucial for data storytellers. This blog lists five handpicked Tableau courses that can help you learn how to display the meanings of data in an intelligible and appealing manner. 

Why Should Data Storytellers and Scientists Learn Tableau?

Listed below are some of the reasons why learning Tableau is a good idea if you are into data storytelling - 

• Intuitive interactivity: Tableau's interface is very intuitive. It allows users to drag and drop fields to create visualizations without the need for programming skills.
• Versatile connectivity: Tableau supports many data sources, from local files to cloud databases like Google Cloud and Amazon Redshift. You can access and work with their data regardless of location or format.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Tableau's pricing model is flexible and scalable, making it a cost-effective solution for both individuals and businesses of all sizes.  
• Real-Time Updates: The ability to update visualizations and dashboards in real-time is essential to keeping information relevant and accurate. Tableau connects to data in real-time, ensuring that the user has access to the latest information.
• Prediction and predictive analytics: Tableau is not limited to just displaying historical data; it also has advanced features for predictive analytics. It can build models and forecast future trends, which is crucial for strategic planning.

Let's look at some tableau courses that can help you in your career as a data storyteller - 

1. Creating Dashboards and Storytelling with Tableau by Coursera
2. Create Dashboards with Tableau by OpenClassrooms
3. Advanced Data Visualization with Tableau
4. Tableau for Data Scientists
5. Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau by Duke University

Must Explore- Tableau Online Courses & Certifications

1. Creating Dashboards and Storytelling with Tableau by Coursera

In this course, you will learn to create dashboards to help identify the story within your data and how to use story points to create a powerful story to leave a lasting impression on your audience. The course will also help you learn to balance your stakeholders' goals and the needs of the end-users, and structure and organise your story to have maximum impact. You will apply more advanced functions within Tableau to guide user interactions, including hierarchies, actions, and parameters. For your final project, you will create a compelling narrative to be delivered in a meeting, as a static report, or in an interactive display online.

Why Should You Take Up Creating Dashboards and Storytelling with Tableau Course?

• Combine data and follow the best practices to present your story.
• Create calculated fields for KPIs to build a figure to measure progress in the data.
• Create dashboards using Tableau that help identify and communicate the key insights within your data.
• Practice concepts and techniques for effective storytelling with data.

2. Create Dashboards with Tableau by OpenClassrooms

This course, "Create a Dashboard with Tableau," provides a comprehensive overview of designing and building dashboards using Tableau, a widely used data visualization tool. You will learn how to design a dashboard blueprint. Later, you will explore different data discovery techniques, utilizing Tableau’s various features to uncover insights. In the final section, the course brings all the components together, guiding learners through creating an interactive dashboard that can effectively display and communicate data.

Why Should You Take Up Creating Dashboards and Storytelling with Tableau Course?

• Learn how to design and build effective dashboards using Tableau, an industry-standard tool.
• The course is structured in three parts—defining dashboards, applying data discovery techniques, and creating interactive dashboards.
• You will be able to design a dashboard blueprint, apply data discovery techniques, and build interactive dashboards.

3. Advanced Data Visualization with Tableau

This course, "Advanced Data Visualization with Tableau," equips learners with the skills to build more complex visualizations by leveraging capabilities such as dual-axis and bar-in-bar charts and spatial data visualizations, including maps and polygons. The course emphasizes effective communication of insights through customized, complex visualizations of information to meet relevant stakeholder needs. While previous experience in Tableau Public is preferred, the course content targets beginners who would also like to position themselves for entry-level positions in business intelligence and data reporting.

Why Should You Take Up Advanced Data Visualization with Tableau Course?

• It is a beginner-friendly course that lays the groundwork for pursuing professional Data Science courses.
• Learn to create complex visualizations like dual-axis and bar-in-bar charts.
• Gain skills in creating and customizing map-based visualizations, including polygon spatial data.
• Get practical experience with essential Tableau tools and charts.

4. Tableau for Data Scientists 

This course by LinkedIn Learning will help the learners understand how to connect and integrate data from various sources, create diverse charts for data interpretation, transform data using calculations, and develop interactive maps. The course also covers techniques for effective data presentation and building engaging dashboards. Whether seeking a deeper understanding of Tableau or aiming to refine specific skills, this course provides valuable insights to advance proficiency in Tableau.

Why Should You Take Up Tableau for Data Scientists Course?

• Grasp the critical distinction between discrete and continuous data in Tableau and its impact on data visualizations.
• Learn techniques for presenting data effectively and building engaging dashboards.
• Earn the Certificate of Completion for free. Showcase on your LinkedIn profile under the "Licenses and Certificates" section.

5. Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau by Duke University

The Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau course will help the learners understand how to effectively communicate the business implications of quantitative analyses to diverse audiences. The course emphasizes structuring data analysis projects to ensure actionable outcomes for stakeholders and highlights the importance of clear communication. The course takers will learn to streamline their analyses and create efficient visualizations using Tableau.  

Why Should You Take Up Data Visualization and Communication with Tableau Course?

• Learn to convey the practical implications of quantitative analyses to both technical and non-technical audiences.
• Streamline and highlight key data insights using Tableau, a leading visualization tool.
• Utilize Tableau to create visualizations that align with human perceptual and cognitive tendencies for clarity and better communication.