Chapter 1:
How do we get real, relevant data into students' hands?
Embedded Files
In order for students to get more confident and critical as they analyze data, they need exposure to authentic, relevant, and diverse data representations.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, how much can a graph or chart communicate? Scientists, businesspeople, and experts in all sorts of fields use visualizations of data to communicate with their audiences. As social media and other media outlets flood our feeds with data, we need more than ever to develop critical thinking and data analysis skills.
Getting REAL Data
Getting REAL Data
Whether students collect data in their investigations or we examine existing data from media and other outlets, we must commit to using data that is relevant, engaging, authentic, and learner-centered.
Your Task
Identify at least ONE TOOL you will try to collect and share data with your students and at least TWO GRAPHS, VISUALIZATIONS, or SOURCES that you can incorporate into an upcoming unit.
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Quickly Collecting REAL Data
Quickly Collecting REAL Data
The tools below allow you to collect data and visually present the data in a variety graphs and charts. Explore these tools and identify at least ONE TOOL and how you'll use it to collect data for students to analyze in an upcoming lesson or unit.
Mentimeter - whole group collect / analyze together
Pros: super quick and easy, variety of graphs and visualizations created immediately, great for surveys and whole class input
Cons: not ideal for manipulating, cannot input data set / table
Love Menti and looking for other resources like it? Check out AhaSlides and Slido
Infogram - easily create data representations
Pros: free sign-up; 10 free projects; editable built-in spreadsheet or upload a spreadsheet with your own data; can easily change type of graph, colors, etc
Cons: Freemium (need to purchase for more than 10 projects)
Google Forms - students collect data themselves
Pros: responses directly put into spreadsheet, some graphs automatically created from responses (pie chart and bar graph)
Cons: limited graphs created automatically, more complex or detailed charts need to be created through Google Sheets
Google Sheets (from a Google Form)
Pros: data immediately and directly available from Google Forms, huge variety of graphs and visuals can be created
Cons: data visualization requires manipulation since the data is initially just in a spread sheet
Examining Existing REAL Data
Examining Existing REAL Data
The sites and sources below have current, relevant, and interesting graphs and visuals that your students can analyze. Find at least TWO graphs, visuals, or sources that you can incorporate into an upcoming lesson or unit.
Exploring science through data, graphs, visualizations and more from Science News for Students. (Click HERE for more Science News for Students articles and resources)
What's Going On in This Graph?
Graphs, maps and charts from The NY Times -- and an invitation to students to discuss them live. (Learn more about this feature)
Activities that bring real scientific data into the classroom, guiding students through the entire process of science while building their quantitative abilities.
Explore the classroom resource library, search for resources that include data or about specific topics
Additional Resources
Chartr: Data Storytelling - Data-driven insights into business, tech, entertainment and society; check out 2020: A Year In Charts and Biweekly published Newsletters (view previous newsletters or subscribe to receive new ones)
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