8_3_2

WHAT: Collect data

HOW:

Activity 1 - READ and WATCH

You have already collected data in outcome 7_3_9. Re-visit this outcome if you need a reminder. As we said in the last outcome, you can collect data in many different ways.

Sticking with the weather theme...could we import some of that weather data automatically each day?

It would be fantastic to have our own weather stations and it you fancy that then take a look at this site: https://www.raspberrypi.org/learning/weather-station-guide/

If you don't have any specialist equipment then you can still collect weather data. This is how you do it:

  • In Google Sheets - this is the formula I used: =importHTML("http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/public/weather/forecast/gcw2hzs1u","table",0)

This code means.....

Import HTML table 0 from the website given. In this case, table 0 is the "first" table on the page. Sometimes the first table might be 1.

With Google Sheets you have to guess which table is showing the data that you need. I knew it was table 0 because I had already run the Excel version. When you don't know the table number, just work your way through 0 to around 5. Not all web sites work as easily as this one.

  • In Microsoft Excel - no formula needed

This data can be updated daily without the need to visit the website again.

Try importing data into a spreadsheet.

Activity 2

Complete the activity again but try and use it to find the UK number single. You can then present the data as information by linking to different cells on a new sheet. The screenshot was created by simply using the = sign and finding the cell that had the number 1 single stored in it.

CHECK:

EMBED:

Create a customised page in a spreadsheet that pulls through all of the relevant data that you would like to see each day.

E.g. the temperature, the uk number 1, the news headline etc.

CLASSROOM IDEAS:

If you are using the weather station idea from the last outcome then this becomes more "hands on" and interactive. The data collection on this page is great if you are lacking in sensor equipment in your school.