← VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

Dashboards

A single screen that combines charts, tables and key figures so a viewer can monitor data at a glance, such as sales or attendance.

Part of: VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 77, VCE Data Analytics - U3O1 - Data Analytics — Module 104, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 126, VCE Data Analytics - U4O1 - Development and Evaluation — Module 60

Understanding Dashboards in VCE Spreadsheets, SQL & Visualisation

What it does: On a dashboard, one filter or slicer changes every linked chart and table at the same time, so the parts stay consistent. Dashboards let a viewer keep track of current figures quickly, whereas storytelling visualisations guide the viewer through a message. A dashboard brings several views of the data together on one screen so the viewer can monitor it quickly. Key figures are placed at the top so the viewer sees the most important numbers at a glance. Linked charts work together, so a filter or selection in one can change what the others show. Too many charts make it hard to see things at a glance. A clear dashboard shows only what matters.

Common mistakes: A dashboard is used to monitor data at a glance, not to tell a long story. Line 1 should say the purpose is to monitor weekly sales. COUNT only counts how many cells hold numbers. The average key figure needs =AVERAGE(B2:B31).

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 71–86) and word search (Modules 55–86).

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Learning
Duo
Which best describes a dashboard?
A long document that explains one idea in many paragraphsA single screen combining charts, tables and key figures to monitor data at a glance
Matches
Dashboard layout: key figures at the bottom, hidden below 5 pages of text
↓
Key figures should be at the top of a dashboard, and the dashboard should fit on a single screen rather than spread over many pages.
Applying
Meanings
Term
dashboard
Meaning
A single screen that combines charts, tables and key figures so a viewer can monitor data at a glance, such as sales or attendance.
Practice
<h1>Sales Dashboard</h1>
Testing
Gaps
=(Data!C2:C50)
Check Answer
Spots
1Purpose: tell one long story
2Key figures: total, average

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Quick Questions

1. Which best describes a dashboard?
A. A single screen combining charts, tables and key figures to monitor data at a glance ✓
B. A long document that explains one idea in many paragraphs
A dashboard brings several views of the data together on one screen so the viewer can monitor it quickly.
2. Where do key figures (like total sales or attendance today) usually go on a dashboard?
A. Hidden at the bottom after all the charts
B. At the top, where they are seen first ✓
Key figures are placed at the top so the viewer sees the most important numbers at a glance.
3. A school dashboard shows attendance rate, a line chart by week and a table of absences, all on one screen. Is this a dashboard?
A. Yes, it combines key figures, a chart and a table on one screen ✓
B. No, a dashboard can only contain one chart
A dashboard combines several elements, such as charts, tables and key figures, on one screen.
4. Which is the main purpose of a dashboard?
A. Telling a long story with a beginning, middle and end
B. Monitoring data at a glance, such as daily sales ✓
Dashboards are mainly for monitoring. Storytelling visualisations, like infographics, guide the viewer through a message.
5. Several linked charts on a dashboard means that:
A. Choosing a value in one chart can update the other charts ✓
B. Every chart must show a completely different data set that never changes
Linked charts work together, so a filter or selection in one can change what the others show.

Match the Pairs

dashboard → A single screen that combines charts, tables and key figures so a viewer can monitor data at a glance
key figure: Total sales = $12,450 → A headline number placed at the top of a dashboard so the viewer sees the most important value first
A dashboard shows several linked charts that update together when the viewer filters the data → Slicer: Year 10 -> updates bar chart, line chart and table
A dashboard is for monitoring data at a glance, while an infographic is for telling a story → Dashboard = monitor | Infographic = storytelling
Dashboard layout: key figures at the bottom, hidden below 5 pages of text → Key figures should be at the top of a dashboard, and the dashboard should fit on a single screen rather than spread over many pages.
Dashboard = one long story with a start, middle and end, read page by page → This describes storytelling, not a dashboard. A dashboard combines charts, tables and key figures on one screen for monitoring.

Key Term

dashboard
A single screen that combines charts, tables and key figures so a viewer can monitor data at a glance, such as sales or attendance.

Fill in the Blanks

1. =SUM(Data!C2:C50)
Hint: Dashboard key figure at the top: type the function that adds up total sales.
2. =AVERAGE(Data!C2:C50)
Hint: Dashboard key figure: type the function that finds the mean of the sales values.
3. =COUNTIF(Data!D2:D50,"Late")
Hint: Dashboard key figure: type the function that counts only the cells matching a condition.
4. =MAX(Data!C2:C50)
Hint: Dashboard key figure: type the function that shows the highest value so a viewer can monitor peaks.
5. =IF(B1<50,"Low","OK")
Hint: Dashboard monitoring alert: type the function that shows a status label depending on a test.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A Purpose: tell one long story
B Key figures: total, average
C Chart 1: sales by store
Line A — A dashboard is used to monitor data at a glance, not to tell a long story. Line 1 should say the purpose is to monitor weekly sales.
Question 2
A Dashboard: Canteen sales
B Total: =SUM(B2:B31)
C Average: =COUNT(B2:B31)
D Highest: =MAX(B2:B31)
Line C — COUNT only counts how many cells hold numbers. The average key figure needs =AVERAGE(B2:B31).
Question 3
A Hide key figures on page 5
B Place charts below them
C Keep it all on one screen
Line A — Key figures belong at the top of the dashboard where the viewer sees them first. Hiding them on another page defeats the point of an at-a-glance view.
Question 4
A Data: Sales table
B Slicer: Region
C Chart 1 uses Staff table
D Chart 2 uses Sales table
Line C — Linked charts must use the same data so a slicer updates them together. Chart 1 should use the Sales table, like Chart 2.
Question 5
A Dashboard: Daily temperature
B Chart 1: pie for trend
C Chart 2: table of readings
Line B — A trend over time is best shown with a line chart. A pie chart shows parts of a whole, so it should be a line chart.

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