Storytelling and Persuading with Data and Digital Technology

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Storytelling and Persuading with Data and Digital Technology

This course is part of Transforming Your Company's Data Analytics Specialization

Instructor: William A. Brantley

Included with

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5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

10 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

5 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

10 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

7 hours to complete

Flexible schedule

Learn at your own pace

What you'll learn

Design data‑driven decision systems that align teams, strategies, and company goals.
Apply emerging digital tools such as low‑code apps, AI, and RPA to enhance analytics and productivity.
Use storytelling and foresight tools to communicate insights and influence outcomes.
Turn organizational data into actionable insights that drive smarter business decisions.

Skills you'll gain

Tools you'll learn

Microsoft PowerPoint

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

25 assignments

Taught in English

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Build your subject-matter expertise

This course is part of the Transforming Your Company's Data Analytics Specialization

When you enroll in this course, you'll also be enrolled in this Specialization.

Learn new concepts from industry experts
Gain a foundational understanding of a subject or tool
Develop job-relevant skills with hands-on projects
Earn a shareable career certificate

There are 5 modules in this course

Turn data into decisions that move your organization forward. In this course, you’ll learn how to transform your business into a true “decision factory” — where analytics, data products, and digital technologies drive smarter choices, stronger alignment, and greater impact.

Through practical frameworks and hands-on insights, you’ll discover how to combine data storytelling, foresight, and scenario planning to improve the quality and speed of decision-making. You’ll learn how to identify your organization’s key decisions, map data needs, and build processes for reliable, evidence-based choices — even when information is incomplete or ambiguous. You’ll also explore the latest trends shaping digital transformation, including the rise of low-code/no-code analytics, AI, and robotic process automation (RPA). By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to lead with data, design better decisions, and help your organization compete in today’s fast-changing digital landscape.

Begin with the fundamentals of storytelling and learn how to apply the And‑But‑Therefore (ABT) framework to craft compelling narratives. Explore methods for selecting and integrating the right data to strengthen your story’s impact.

What's included

5 videos11 readings6 assignments

5 videos Total 31 minutes

1.1.1 The Basics of Storytelling 6 minutes
1.2.1 Compelling Storytelling with the ABT Framework Video 6 minutes
1.3.1 Selecting the Right Data Video 5 minutes
1.4.1 Creating a Story from Data Video 7 minutes
1.5.1 Thinking in Data Stories Video 7 minutes

11 readings Total 21 minutes

Welcome! 1 minute
Course Syllabus 2 minutes
Course Instructor 1 minute
FAQs 1 minute
The Basics of Storytelling Summary Points 3 minutes
Compelling Storytelling with the ABT Framework Summary Points 3 minutes
Selecting the Right Data Summary Points 2 minutes
Creating a Story from Data Summary Points 3 minutes
Thinking in Data Stories Summary Points 3 minutes
Week 1 References 1 minute
Don't Forget to Claim You Some PDUs! 1 minute

6 assignments Total 40 minutes

Week 1 Quiz 15 minutes
1.1.3 The Basics of Storytelling Knowledge Check 5 minutes
1.2.3. Compelling Storytelling with the ABT Framework Knowledge Check 5 minutes
1.3.3 Selecting the Right Data Knowledge Check 5 minutes
1.4.3 Creating a Story from Data Knowledge Check 5 minutes
1.5.3 Thinking in Data Stories Knowledge Check 5 minutes

Build effective and visually engaging data presentations. Discover the principles of strong presentation design, apply insights from neuroscience to improve retention, and learn best practices for creating persuasive online presentations.

What's included

5 videos6 readings6 assignments

5 videos Total 43 minutes

2.1.1 The Rules of Good Presentations Video 7 minutes
2.2.1 Brain-Friendly Presentation Design Video 10 minutes
2.3.1 Creating Good Data Visualizations Video 10 minutes
2.4.1 Beyond Bullet-Points Presentation Planning and Delivery Video 7 minutes
2.5.1 Compelling Online Presentations Video 9 minutes

6 readings Total 24 minutes

The Rules of Good Presentations Summary Points 4 minutes
Brain-Friendly Presentation Design Summary Points 4 minutes
Creating Good Data Visualizations Summary Points 6 minutes
Beyond Bullet-Points Presentation Planning and Delivery Summary Points 4 minutes
Compelling Online Presentations Summary Points 5 minutes
Week 2 References 1 minute

6 assignments Total 40 minutes

Week 2 Quiz 15 minutes
2.1.3 The Rules of Good Presentations Knowledge Check 5 minutes
2.2.3 Brain-Friendly Presentation Design Knowledge Check 5 minutes
2.3.3 Creating Good Data Visualizations Knowledge Check 5 minutes
2.4.3 Beyond Bullet-Points Presentation Planning and Delivery Knowledge Check 5 minutes
2.5.3 Compelling Online Presentations Knowledge Check 5 minutes

Examine the art of persuasion and apply the Elegant Pitch tool to design impactful proposals. Gain strategies for recovering from unsuccessful pitches and helping decision‑makers reach a “yes” through self‑persuasion.

What's included

5 videos6 readings6 assignments

5 videos Total 38 minutes

3.1.1 What Persuades People? Video 5 minutes
3.2.1 Presence, Logic, and Emotions in Persuasion Video 5 minutes
3.3.1 The Perfect Pitch Tool for Persuasion Video 4 minutes
3.4.1 Recovering from a Bad Proposal Video 11 minutes
3.5.1 Helping the Decision Maker Persuade Themselves Video 12 minutes

6 readings Total 17 minutes

What Persuades People? Summary Points 2 minutes
Presence, Logic, and Emotions in Persuasion Summary Points 2 minutes
The Perfect Pitch Tool for Persuasion Summary Points 2 minutes
Recovering from a Bad Proposal Summary Points 5 minutes
Helping the Decision Maker Persuade Themselves Summary Points 5 minutes
Week 3 References 1 minute

6 assignments Total 40 minutes

Week 3 Quiz 15 minutes
3.1.3 What Persuades People? Knowledge Check 5 minutes
3.2.3 Presence, Logic, and Emotions in Persuasion Knowledge Check 5 minutes
3.3.3 The Perfect Pitch Tool for Persuasion Knowledge Check 5 minutes
3.4.3 Recovering from a Bad Proposal Knowledge Check 5 minutes
3.5.3 Helping the Decision Maker Persuade Themselves Knowledge Check 5 minutes

Explore how customer education drives success in data‑driven organizations. Learn to design customer training programs and leverage data storytelling techniques to help clients and users get the most value from analytics products.

What's included

5 videos6 readings6 assignments

5 videos Total 34 minutes

4.1.1 Why Organizations Need to Train Their Customers Video 8 minutes
4.2.1 Creating the Customer Training Program Video 7 minutes
4.3.1 Training Customers with Data Analytics Products 6 minutes
4.4.1 Engaging Customers with Data Analysis Video 5 minutes
4.5.1 Training Customers with Data Stories Video 7 minutes

6 readings Total 17 minutes

Why Organizations Need to Train Their Customers Summary Points 3 minutes
Creating the Customer Training Program Summary Points 4 minutes
Training Customers with Data Analytics Products Summary Points 2 minutes
Engaging Customers with Data Analysis Summary Points 3 minutes
Training Customers with Data Stories Summary Points 4 minutes
Week 4 References 1 minute

6 assignments Total 40 minutes

Week 4 Quiz 15 minutes
4.1.3 Why Organizations Need to Train Their Customers Knowledge Check 5 minutes
4.2.3 Creating the Customer Training Program Knowledge Check 5 minutes
4.3.3 Training Customers with Data Analytics Products Knowledge Check 5 minutes
4.4.3 Engaging Customers with Data Analysis Knowledge Check 5 minutes
4.5.3 Training Customers with Data Stories Knowledge Check 5 minutes

What's included

3 readings1 assignment

Earn a career certificate

Add this credential to your LinkedIn profile, resume, or CV. Share it on social media and in your performance review.

Instructor

William A. Brantley

University of Maryland, College Park

11 Courses 7,177 learners

Offered by

University of Maryland, College Park

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Frequently asked questions

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you enroll in the course, you get access to all of the courses in the Specialization, and you earn a certificate when you complete the work. Your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.