Lessons from the Pumpkin Patch: Building Community and Visualization Literacy with Physical Visualization

Teaching introductory visualization classes is a challenging job. These courses often attract students with wide range of prior preparation, and many arrive without formal training in the foundations of computing or statistics. Further, educators face the challenge of growing and adapting in response to new best practices for inclusive and accessible computational education. In this paper, we present a case study documenting a class-wide physical visualization project designed to foster a classroom learning community, reinforce the principle of data-visual mapping, and engage students in a creative and community-focused data project. Guided by inclusive pedagogy and learning science principles of scaffolding, constructivism, and constructionism, the project challenged students to create a physical visualization out of carved pumpkins that would engage the campus community. Student responses to the project were overall extremely positive. An evaluation of the project showed students walked away with increased respect for large-scale projects, a deeper understanding of data-visual mapping, pride and awe in their creation, an increased sense of classroom and campus community, and appreciation for the accessibility of the project.