How to Use This Graphic

This brief visual tutorial is meant to help you use the motion chart behind “States in Motion: Education Over Time.”

The charts have the power to visualize massive amounts of data on the fly from 24 different datasets.


Toggling Charts

Google Motion Charts allow you to look at data over time in three different formats. Most of the data extend back to 1970:

  • BUBBLE CHART: Data appears as a set of bubbles. Each bubble’s size is scaled proportionally based on the dataset provided (e.g. higher values in the dataset equal a larger bubble).
  • COLUMN CHART: Traditional vertical bar chart.
  • LINE CHART: Trend chart where the chosen dataset is displayed as lines.

Switching between variables

There are four different ways you can feed the 24 different datasets in the Motion Chart:

  • X-AXIS: Lays out data along the horizontal axis.
  • Y-AXIS: Lays out data along the vertical axis.
  • COLOR: Color codes the data in a rainbow-style gradient (e.g. the bluest is the lowest value and the reddest is the highest value).
  • SIZE: This applies to the BUBBLE CHART only. This applies to the size of the bubbles based on the dataset (e.g. the smaller the bubble, the lower the value of the data).

How to interact with “States in Motion”

This will show you how to navigate through the 16 questions posed in the Motion Chart and how to make the chart alive:

  • DROP DOWN NAVIGATION BAR: Use to jump to a question.
  • NEXT BUTTON: Goes to the next question in the sequence.
  • PREVIOUS BUTTON: Goes to the previous question in the sequence.
  • LABELS: Check boxes of states you want to follow particular states over time.
  • PLAY CHART: This will play the motion chart over time, allowing you to see trends over time.
  • SCROLL TO YEAR: Use cursor to scroll to a specific year without having to “play” the entire motion chart.