# Introduction

The datascape referred to in this guidebook is conceived as a collection of data sets that are somehow related to each other - by location, time, theme and so on. By thinking about data as existing within a connected data landscape, we might be able to use these connections to make it easier to navigate both within and across data sets. The ultimate aim is to provide ways of making open data easier to use.

This notion of a datascape has inspired the creation of a number of tools for connecting people with data and especially to support those with less expertise in handling data to find and use it for solving problems and answering questions of interest.

This guide contains instruction cards for using several different methods to support navigating within and between data sets. Most of these methods are intended for use in co-creation workshop settings. Some require pre-preparation and curation of data, whereas others require only preparation of activities that support curation of data within the workshop itself. All of the tools are designed to be used collaboratively and to support participatory sensemaking.


A data landscape

Please start navigating from the menu to learn about and use the different methods.

###### tags: `datascape toolkit` `toolkit` `preface`