Day 13:
Well, I'm getting data together to make an initial presentation. I was using Box and Whisker plots (never knew anyone used them) and the engineer that I work with said he likes that. Getting data together requires precision and consciencousness. I think in any project done in my class it will require that. The students have to learn sometime. I do have a question about my data, but I must leave for today.
Day 14:
Today after going through some data, I realized that the data we were getting was not correct. So all of the data collected the last 2 weeks were wrong. Ouch. Only a minor set back, but I'm not complaining. It will get done. It's one of those things that you have to tweek as you go along, like in a classroom. So as I wait on the correct data to come in, I've been looking at more statistics information. I think I'm seeing more of what to do in my classroom. I'm thinking for my Algebra 1 class when we talk about data. When we use standard deviation it uses a histogram to display the distribution of the information. I've never seen a use for histograms other than counting items, but now I see a real world application of it. Slowly ideas are coming together for a project.
So what is the secret to making data collection and analysis... fun? I'm always afraid that I will loose my students if I don't keep it exciting and ever changing (which we both know that data collection can be anything but that at times...) I don't want my students to think that math/science is boring... but I don't want to give them a false impression either... You know?!?
ReplyDelete