{"id":23535,"date":"2025-05-13T10:12:54","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:12:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dvsnightingstg.wpenginepowered.com\/?p=23535"},"modified":"2025-05-13T10:18:00","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T14:18:00","slug":"drawagram-a-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nightingaledvs.com\/drawagram-a-game\/","title":{"rendered":"Drawagram: A Game-Based Learning Approach to Teach Time-based Data Visualization"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Figure 1 Illustration of the process of a round in the card game, showing the steps from drawing cards and sketching a visualization to presenting, discussing and voting. Image courtesy of the authors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Drawagram is a card game based on creativity and interaction that explores the fundamental ideas behind the development of simple time-based data visualizations. Players create visualizations individually on a range of topics, following the guidelines provided by specific cards. The game encourages creativity and innovative thinking and motivates players to find and try different methods to visualize data successfully. By combining learning with gamification, Drawagram offers students, professionals, and educators a fun and accessible way to improve their data literacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to understand and interpret data visualizations<\/a> has become an essential skill in a variety of fields<\/a>. However, traditional teaching methods often only rely on lectures and software-based training, which might be overwhelming for beginners. To improve engagement and accessibility, researchers emphasize that the importance of including diverse learning materials<\/a> should not be underestimated, especially in the context of data visualization and that, in addition, non-computer-based tools such as sketching also provide valuable opportunities for students to be creative<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gamification<\/a> has emerged as an effective approach to improve learning outcomes, particularly in data visualization education<\/a>. Studies suggest that using a game-based approach<\/a> to learn different data visualization methods is an accessible and straightforward way to teach the general public basics of visual representation and its appropriate use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some card games exist, such as \u201cCharty Party\u201d<\/a>, \u201cThe Graphic Continuum: Match it Game\u201d<\/a> and \u201cThe Data Visualization Deck\u201d<\/a> that reach from purely entertaining party game to visualization cards that support professionals to improve their work and achieve a compelling presentation of their data. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Building on the success of these existing card games, we introduce Drawagram, taking a step further by focusing specifically on time-oriented data visualizations, offering a more interactive approach. Drawagram is a hands-on educational card game that supports users in engagingly discovering time-oriented data visualization. By allowing players to experiment with different chart types and relevant topics and engage in discussions about their created visualizations, Drawagram fosters creativity and analytical thinking. The game encourages players to make quick, informed decisions about how to structure their visualizations and also to reflect on how effective their design decisions are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, Drawagram focuses on creating simple time-based data visualizations to help players develop a basic understanding of how to represent data over time. The game is designed for students, educators, and professionals to provide an engaging way to explore the basic principles of data visualization. Through game-based learning, Drawagram helps players improve their data literacy in a fun and engaging environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Game description<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Drawagram consists of three different card types, as illustrated in Figure 2. \u201cChart Cards\u201d (Figure 2, blue) determine the type of visualization that needs to be drawn, \u201cTopic Cards\u201d (Figure 2, green) specify the topic for the visualization, and \u201cSpecial Cards\u201d (Figure 2, yellow) introduce constraints or challenges that must be followed when creating visualizations. To ensure fairness, \u201cSpecial Cards\u201d have been curated to offer comparable levels of difficulty. While balancing is still ongoing, the current card set is considered to be mostly well-balanced in terms of challenge across players.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Within a time limit of five minutes, players use pencils and colored pens to draw visualizations on a sheet of paper based on the cards assigned to them. At the end, all visualizations are presented and discussed. The goal is to encourage visual thinking, problem-solving, and critical evaluation of data representations while providing an entertaining and educational experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drawagram is designed for three to four players and is best played in a small group setting that encourages creativity, peer learning, and constructive feedback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Goals and rules of play<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The goal of the game is to create the most effective, creative, and accurate sketch of a data visualization within five minutes. While sketching, players must carefully consider what data they want to display that fits the given theme and chart type while following the constraints imposed by the \u201cSpecial Cards\u201d (see Figure 2, yellow card). After each round, all visualizations are presented and discussed. The group will evaluate each visualization based on three criteria: (1) creativity, (2) accuracy, and (3) legibility. The player with the best overall score in these three categories earns a point. The game continues until a player has earned three points or an agreed number of rounds has been played.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Figure 2 Examples of the Card Types in Drawagram. The blue \u201cChart Cards\u201d determine which visualization has to be created, the green \u201cTopic Cards\u201d define the subject of the visualization, and the yellow \u201cSpecial Cards\u201d introduce constraints that need to be followed by the players when creating. Image courtesy of the authors.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
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Game manual<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Each round of the game consists of four key phases\u2014setup, sketching, presentation & discussion, and voting\u2014as illustrated in Figure 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setup<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the beginning of each round, the group draws one \u201cChart Card\u201d and one \u201cTopic Card\u201d collectively. The \u201cChart Card\u201d specifies the type of visualization that must be used, and the \u201cTopic Card\u201d defines the subject for the visualization. Based on these two cards, all players must create their visualizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to these shared cards, a \u201cSpecial Card\u201d is drawn by each player individually. This card introduces constraints or challenges that must be included in the visualization, such as \u201cadd a legend\u201d, \u201chighlight anomalies\u201d, or \u201cuse at least three different colors\u201d. These constraints encourage players to experiment with different techniques and ensure that there will be a wide variety of visualizations to discuss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Players unfamiliar with the drawn chart type can find a short description in the added booklet, which contains an illustration and a brief description of each chart type included in the game. This ensures that all players can participate effectively and understand how to represent data in the given format.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sketching Phase<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Once the cards have been drawn and each player understands the drawn chart type, the timer is set for five minutes. During this time period, each player must create a sketch of a visualization on paper using pencils and colored pens. The sketch must align with the given chart type and topic and has to include the restriction from the individually drawn \u201cSpecial Card\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The game focuses on creativity, not artistic skills. Players should think about how to communicate data effectively using the given visualization method. The short time limit adds some challenge to the whole sketching process, as players are pushed to make quick but thoughtful decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Presentation and Discussion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As soon as the timer runs out, each player takes turns and presents their visualization to the group by explaining the reason behind their design choice, how they incorporated the restriction of the \u201cSpecial Card\u201d, why they selected specific colors or labels, and what story or message the visualization should convey. After each presentation, the group discusses the outlined visualization based on factors such as creativity, clarity, accuracy, and legibility. This discussion should encourage the players to reflect on what was done well and what could be done better. The whole process is non-judgmental and intended to foster learning and the exchange of insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voting Phase<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After the group presents and discusses all sketches, the sketches will be evaluated. All players evaluate each visualization individually based on the factors of creativity, accuracy, and legibility. Players cannot vote on their own sketches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Creativity assesses how unique and interesting the approach is. Accuracy checks that the chart type has been implemented correctly and displays the data accurately while taking into account the limitations of the \u201cSpecial Card\u201d. Legibility determines if the visualization is easy to understand, with clear titles, axis labels, and other important elements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each player assigns a score from 1 (Very Poor) to 5 (Excellent) in each category for every other player’s visualization. The scoring is based on the Likert scale outlined below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Score<\/th>Description<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
1<\/td>Very Poor<\/td><\/tr>
2<\/td>Below Average<\/td><\/tr>
3<\/td>Average<\/td><\/tr>
4<\/td>Good<\/td><\/tr>
5<\/td>Excellent<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>
Table 1<\/em><\/strong> Likert Scale for Evaluating Visualizations<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Each player’s total score is calculated by summing the points they received across all criteria from the other players. The player with the highest total score at the end of the round wins and earns a point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voting is conducted openly, and players are encouraged\u2014but not required\u2014to briefly explain their given scores. This promotes reflection and constructive feedback. If two or more players have the same number of points at the end of a round, they will all earn a point. The game continues until a player reaches three points or until a predefined number of rounds has been played.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To simplify the evaluation process, players can use the Drawagram voting sheet. This is a structured sheet on which all ratings can be noted during the voting phase. This contributes to transparency, avoids errors, and simplifies the final score calculation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example round of the game<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To illustrate how a game of Drawagram plays out, this example describes a round with three players: A, B, and C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Setup<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The following cards are drawn for this round:<\/p>\n\n\n\n