Dashboard Overview

The InsightLens dashboard is your command center for survey analysis. This guide will help you understand each component and how to use them effectively.

Dashboard Layout

The dashboard is organized into several key sections:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                    Top Navigation                       │
├─────────────┬───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│             │              Main Content                 │
│   Sidebar   │  ┌─────────────┬─────────────────────────┐ │
│             │  │ Overview    │    Quick Charts         │ │
│             │  │ Cards       │                         │ │
│             │  ├─────────────┼─────────────────────────┤ │
│             │  │ Recent Activity    │ Sentiment Trend │ │
│             │  │                    │                 │ │
│             │  └────────────────────┴─────────────────┘ │
├─────────────┴───────────────────────────────────────────┤
│                       Footer                           │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Overview Cards

Located in the top-left section, these cards provide key metrics at a glance:

Total Units Card

  • Total number of units in your database
  • Growth indicator showing change from previous period
  • Quick filter to view by campus or discipline
  • Color coding based on performance trends

Response Rate Card

  • Average response rate across all surveys
  • Benchmark comparison against institutional goals
  • Trend arrow indicating improvement or decline
  • Target achievement percentage

Overall Satisfaction Card

  • Average satisfaction score from all responses
  • Sentiment distribution (positive/neutral/negative)
  • Comparison with previous semesters
  • Alert indicators for concerning trends

Recent Surveys Card

  • Count of surveys imported in last 30 days
  • Processing status of recent imports
  • Quick access to latest survey data
  • Import shortcuts for adding new data

Quick Charts Section

The right side of the dashboard features interactive charts:

Sentiment Over Time

  • Line chart showing sentiment trends
  • Semester breakdown for easy comparison
  • Interactive tooltips with detailed data
  • Zoom and pan for focused analysis

Using the Sentiment Chart

  1. Hover over data points for detailed information
  2. Click and drag to zoom into specific time periods
  3. Double-click to reset zoom
  4. Use legend to toggle data series on/off
  • Bar chart comparing response rates
  • Campus and discipline filtering options
  • Benchmark lines for target comparisons
  • Export options for presentations

Top Performing Units

  • Ranked list of highest-rated units
  • Score breakdown by question category
  • Trend indicators showing improvement/decline
  • Direct links to detailed unit analysis

Recent Activity Panel

Tracks your latest interactions with the system:

Recent Imports

  • List of newly imported surveys
  • Processing status and any errors
  • Quick actions to view or edit imports
  • Bulk operations for managing multiple files

Recent Analyses

  • AI queries you’ve run recently
  • Charts generated through natural language
  • Saved views and custom reports
  • Collaboration activity (if applicable)

System Alerts

  • Data quality warnings for unusual patterns
  • Missing data notifications for incomplete surveys
  • Performance recommendations for better insights
  • Update notifications for new features

Interactive Features

Filtering Options

Available throughout the dashboard:

Time Period Filters

  • Last semester, year, or custom range
  • Academic year vs calendar year options
  • Semester-specific analysis

Unit Filters

  • By discipline or school
  • By campus location
  • By unit level (undergraduate/postgraduate)
  • By instructor or coordinator

Data Quality Filters

  • Minimum response rate thresholds
  • Complete vs partial surveys
  • Recent vs historical data

Quick Actions

Accessible from various dashboard elements:

From Overview Cards

  • Click card titles to view detailed breakdowns
  • Use trend arrows to see historical comparisons
  • Access quick filters for refined analysis

From Charts

  • Right-click for export options
  • Use toolbar for chart customization
  • Drag to create custom time ranges

From Activity Panel

  • Quick re-run of recent analyses
  • Direct navigation to specific surveys
  • Bulk actions for multiple items

Customization Options

Dashboard Layouts

  • Compact View: More cards in less space
  • Detailed View: Larger charts with more information
  • Focus Mode: Hide distracting elements
  • Presentation Mode: Full-screen optimized display

Widget Management

  • Add/Remove Cards: Show only relevant metrics
  • Resize Components: Adjust chart and card sizes
  • Reorder Elements: Drag and drop for custom layout
  • Save Layouts: Create multiple dashboard configurations

Color Themes

  • Institution Colors: Match your university branding
  • Accessibility Themes: High contrast for better visibility
  • Dark/Light Mode: Based on preference or time of day
  • Custom Palettes: Create your own color schemes

Dashboard Best Practices

Daily Routine

  1. Check overview cards for any concerning trends
  2. Review recent activity for completed analyses
  3. Scan alerts for data quality issues
  4. Quick scan of sentiment trends

Weekly Analysis

  1. Deep dive into trending units (up or down)
  2. Compare current semester with previous periods
  3. Review response rate patterns
  4. Plan follow-up actions based on insights

Monthly Review

  1. Export charts for reports and presentations
  2. Archive old survey data if needed
  3. Update benchmark targets based on performance
  4. Review and adjust dashboard configuration

Keyboard Shortcuts

Speed up your dashboard navigation:

Shortcut Action
Ctrl/Cmd + F Quick search
R Refresh dashboard
N New analysis
E Export current view
H Hide/show sidebar
? Show all shortcuts

Mobile and Tablet View

The dashboard adapts to smaller screens:

  • Responsive layout adjusts automatically
  • Touch-friendly controls for charts
  • Simplified navigation for mobile devices
  • Core functionality maintained across all sizes

Performance Tips

For Large Datasets

  • Use time filters to focus on recent data
  • Limit concurrent charts to maintain performance
  • Cache frequently used views for faster loading
  • Consider data archiving for very old surveys

For Better Insights

  • Combine multiple views for comprehensive analysis
  • Use benchmark comparisons to add context
  • Focus on trends rather than single data points
  • Regular monitoring reveals patterns over time

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Dashboard Loading Slowly

  • Clear browser cache or restart application
  • Check database size and consider archiving
  • Verify sufficient system memory

Charts Not Displaying

  • Check data availability for selected filters
  • Verify chart permissions and settings
  • Try refreshing or changing time range

Missing Data in Cards

  • Confirm survey imports completed successfully
  • Check filter settings aren’t too restrictive
  • Verify database connectivity

Getting More Help

  • Hover tooltips provide contextual information
  • Help menu contains detailed feature guides
  • Video tutorials show dashboard features in action
  • Support chat available for specific questions

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