Leading Question: http://i.imgur.com/2Kq3nIa.jpg
Day One: collecting information.
**This is the day of the boxes**. The big question: what does it take to get good information about the world? How can we best gather information about people, and use it well?
Goal Two: creation of a survey.
You will work with others to create a survey that you would like to give to others. We will look at these on Wednesday, and refine them even further.
Goal Three: collection of data, building actual information out of what we've collected.
... so, the survey is built. Here's what you need to do.
1) Give the survey to each person in the class. Again. If it's a form, send me a link and I'll send it to the class (make sure you have your survey set to "accept all answers" and "do not collect personal information". If it's paper, let me know and I'll print it.
1a) Take all surveys, including your own. This should be seven surveys.
2) Gather the results (easier if you used the google forms)
3) You are going to create a document that outlines the positives and the changes needs for the course. This sheet should include the following:
each question should be included in at least one graphic (a graphic may include more than one question's results)
If univariate data, it should include mean, standard deviation, and a summary of what those tell us.
example 1: "The data was approximately N(3.11, .24) suggesting that the pace of the course is slightly faster than ideal. The small standard deviation suggests that this fact is true for most of the students."
example 2: "The data was approximately N(4.12, 1.1) suggesting that most of the class felt the course was going too fast. The greater standard deviation shows there was an aberration in the data; a second clump of students thought the class was going too slow."
If bivariate data, is should include the equation of the line of best fit, the correlation, and a summary of why the graph is important to us.
example 3: "There was a strong correlation between absences and understanding of the data. (Y-hat = 1.1x - .1, r = .88). This suggests that people who miss more classes tend to think the course is more difficult than those who are here more often."
A suggestion of changes (or no changes from your data)
example 1: "Based upon our findings, the pace of the course does not need to change."
example 2: "Most of the class appears to think the course is going to quickly. We suggest that Mr. Mundt consider this, and plan accordingly. As we connect this to Question 4, it appears that people think notes go to quickly and that could be a specific place where change could occur. There was a small section of people who believed the course was going to slow; perhaps we need a discussion on Monday relating this information."
example 3: "We are unsure as to the explanatory and response: are those who think the course hard skipping, or is the course harder because they are missing class? As we connect this to types of ways people learn, it seems those missing the lectures are having trouble completing the assignments."
Any other information you think relevant, germane, or useful for context. Possible follow up questions fit here well.
"We asked these questions to see if Data Sets need to be changed. A follow up question we really want to ask is "What would people change about data sets?" While not quantitative, it would allow us to perhaps see what things people are having trouble with."
"With more funding, we would attempt to ascertain whether people retain information better or worse when data sets are used that correlate directly to information given that week, or if calls back to previous information are necessary."
All of this should be nice, neat, clear, and if possible, fit on a single printed piece of paper. Front and back at the most. I will print them in color at home this weekend.