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UMD, USMx: Storytelling and Persuading using Data and Digital Technologies

Learn how to gain traction for your digital transformation initiatives with stories based on data that use compelling data visualizations to build a persuasive business case.

Storytelling and Persuading using Data and Digital Technologies
4 weeks
2–3 hours per week
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
Free
Optional upgrade available

There is one session available:

9,470 already enrolled! After a course session ends, it will be archivedOpens in a new tab.
Starts Mar 19
Ends Jul 31

About this course

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Decisions made by humans are rarely made by data alone. Human decision-makers have cognitive biases, are affected by emotions, and make conceptual leaps beyond what the data may suggest. The best way to educate and persuade decision-makers is through stories. Stories built by good data analysis.

In this course, you will learn how to create stories based on data - data storytelling - by using the ABT (“And, But, Then”) Narrative Framework. We will start by using powerful data science techniques to explore and refine your data. We shape a compelling narrative out of the data findings using brain-friendly storytelling techniques.

Once you have your stories, you will learn to create insightful data visualizations and build a persuasive presentation for business professionals - both in-person or online.

The final week of the course deals with Customer Training. Customers want the latest and greatest digital products full of features. But customers don't want to spend too much time learning those features. Customer training helps the digital organization be more strategic by assisting the customer in engaging more with the product.

Using data storytelling skills, you will craft stories to help customers understand how your organization’s products and services will make their lives better. You will learn how to use the data analytics and machine learning in your digital organization to create effective customer training, so your products and services get the traction you need for digital transformation success.

At a glance

  • Language: English
  • Video Transcripts: اَلْعَرَبِيَّةُ, Deutsch, English, Español, Français, हिन्दी, Bahasa Indonesia, Português, Kiswahili, తెలుగు, Türkçe, 中文
  • Associated programs:
  • Associated skills:Data Analysis, Persuasive Communication, Machine Learning, Data Storytelling, Data Visualization, Data Science, Presentations, Digital Transformation

What you'll learn

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  • Being strategic in presenting data to decision-makers
  • The basics of storytelling as applied to data analysis
  • Creating compelling data presentations with understandable charts and diagrams
  • Persuading with data
  • Training customers with data

Week One - Storytelling with Data

  • Module One - The Basics of Storytelling
  • Module Two - Compelling Storytelling with the ABT Framework
  • Module Three - Selecting the Right Data
  • Module Four - Creating a Story from Data
  • Module Five - Thinking in Data Stories

Week Two - Building Good Data Presentations

  • Module One - The Rules of Good Presentations
  • Module Two - Brain-Friendly Presentation Design
  • Module Three - Creating Good Data Visualizations
  • Module Four - Beyond Bullet-Points Presentation Planning and Delivery
  • Module Five - Compelling Online Presentations

Week Three - Persuading with Data

  • Module One - What Persuades People?
  • Module Two - Presence, Logic, and Emotions in Persuasion
  • Module Three - The Perfect Pitch Tool for Persuasion
  • Module Four - Recovering from a Bad Proposal
  • Module Five - Helping the Decision Maker Persuade Themselves

Week Four - Customer Training

  • Module One - Why Organizations Need to Train Their Customers
  • Module Two - Creating the Customer Training Program
  • Module Three - Training Customers with Data Analytics Products
  • Module Four - Engaging Customers with Data Analysis
  • Module Five - Training Customers with Data Stories

This course is part of Transforming Your Company’s Data Analytics: Championing the Digital Enterprise Professional Certificate Program

Learn more 
Expert instruction
4 skill-building courses
Self-paced
Progress at your own speed
4 months
2 - 3 hours per week

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