Graphing and Analyzing Our School’s Attendance
Grade Level: 9
Standards: Math:
Organize data
Interpret representation of data, compare distribution of data and critique conclusion
Technology:
Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative work.
Students use technology tools to process data and report results.
English Language Arts:
Read and comprehend authentic documents.
Write reports using correct conventions and grammar.
Aim: How do we analyze our attendance?
Motivation:
The students will receive the school’s average attendance since the beginning of the year. A few questions will be asked:
- 1. What can we do with all these numbers?
- 2. What do they represent?
- 3. Can we use all these numbers to understand our community/school?
- 4. Can we create graphs and charts using these numbers?
By answering these questions students will be motivated to work on the project and mostly they will understand the final objective of the project.
On the transparency, a few examples of possible graphs will be given.
Materials:
Computer with the following software:
- a. Power Point
- b. Excel or Works
- c. Word or Works
- Transparency and Overhead Projector
- LCD Projector in order to show one screen to entire class.
- Construction paper, oak tag, scissors, markers, glue.
Development and Pivotal Question:
a. Students at this point will be asked to write down three reasons why by analyzing the attendance of the school they will create a better community/school.
- b. What’s the difference between a Bar graph and a histogram?
- c. Why are some graphs better than others to represent data?
- d. What should we use to graph the attendance?
- e. What’s the difference between analysis and predictions?
- f. How do we analyze a set of data?
Possible questions to ask when we analyze data:
- 1. Why do some months have a higher attendance?
- 2. Does the weather have an influence on attendance?
3. Is this the beginning or the end of the school year?
- g. How do we make predictions?
Possible questions to ask when we make predictions:
- 1. Based on the data what can we expect for the future?
- 2. Is the end of the year going to affect attendance?
- 3. Is the nice weather going to affect attendance?
Instructional Format and Exploration:
After the motivation, and the Pivotal questions, students will have a clear understanding of the project. They will understand the difference between different graphs, and between analysis and prediction.
At this point they will be separated in groups of three or four.
Each group will receive a package with instructions of how to use Power Point, Excel, and TI-83 graphing calculator.
Each group will terminate the work in two days.
At the end of the project each group will have:
Name of the Project
Name of students and their role in the group
Board or power point Slides with graph, predictions and analysis for each month
The projects will be graded based on a rubric that will be attached.
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TI –83 Graphing Calculator.
1. Turn on the TI-83 [Bottom left]
2. First thing we want to do is enter the data in the calculator
Press STAT [1:EDIT should be highlighted, if not go to 1:EDIT]
Press ENTER
In order to clear all the columns go to the top of the column with the up arrow key and press CLEAR.
Press ENTER. [The all column should be clear]
Repeat for every column. Make sure they are all clear.
3. Got to column L1
Enter all the data.
4. Now is time to see mean, standard deviation and other valuable information.
Press STAT
Go to CALC
Press ENTER
1-Var Stats should be highlighted, if not highlight 1: 1-Var Stats
1-Var Stats shows on your display.
Press ENTER
Here you have mean, the sum of all the value, the sum square, sx [this is the standard deviation], the number of data entered if you press down arrow key you will see the Minimum, First quartile, Median, Third quartile, and finally the Maximum value.
All this information can be printed if your computer Lab has the Texas Instrument software view on the computer screen the TI-83 display.
5. To see the histogram, scatter plot or any other graph.
Press 2nd
Press Y=
STATS PLOTS should come up
Press 1: Plot1
Make sure ON is highlighted, if not go on ON and press ENTER
Now you have six pictures: to choose the one that you want go on the desired one and press ENTER
From the top left: Scatter Plot, Line graph, Histogram, Box Whisker Plots, Box Whisker Plots and line graphs.
X list :L1 [L1 if the data is entered in column 1. If the data is in L2 then press L2 for Xlist]
The graph will use the highlighted MARK to show the graph.
6. In order to see the graph
Press ZOOM
Press 9:ZoomStat
Press ENTER
Press GRAPH
You can copy or print using the software or copy the graphs
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EXCEL
- 1. With excel you have a lot of cells
- 2. In cell A1 you can type any information such as: Months, or the title of the project.
Attendance project |
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Month |
Percent of students |
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February |
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March |
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- 3. Enter all the data in the cells as explained above.
- 4. At the end after all the information is entered highlight all the cells except the titles. [Only the months and the data entered for each month]
- 5. On top click the Wizard Chart. [Little button that has a little bar graph on it]
- 6. Step 1: Choose the type of graph that you want.
- 7. Click NEXT
- 8. Step 2: Data range will be shown. SERIES IN: Rows should have a mark.
- 9. Click NEXT
- 10. Step 3: Fill in all the information. The Tab on top is self-explanatory. This section will give all the information on how the graph will look in terms of labels.
- 11. If you make mistake you can go back at any time using the Back key.
- 12. Step 4: This will decide where to place the chart.
- 13. In order to make any changes double click on the graph.
- 14. The data in the spreadsheet can also be printed.
- 15. In order to make changes to the format of the cells:
a. Highlight the cells
- b. Go to FORMAT
- c. Cells
- d. Make any change that you want.
16. To print go to FILE and PRINT.
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Power Point 5.1
- 1. Click on Power Point Icon on your desktop.
- 2. You can create a new presentation using:
- a. Auto content wizard [This one will give you ideas how to create a presentation]
- b. Design template [Using this one you can choose from a wide range of design. Each design has a little preview.]
- c. Blank presentation [You have to create one. There is no design]
In this little set of instructions I will show you how to create a presentation using the design template. Understanding how to use this one will give a clear idea how to use any other one.
- 3. Click on design template, and a little dot will appear.
- 4. Click NEXT
- 5. Each design has a little preview on the bottom right. Choose the one that you like the most.
- 6. After you design which design you like, click NEXT
- 7. The next window you have to choose the Layout that you need.
In our case the best one will be the one that contains chart and text.
Choose the Layout that you want a press OK.
- 8. At this point you have a complete layout of your slides.
- 9. At this point the only limit is you imagination.
- 10. At each slide you can right click with you mouse and you will see a variety of command that will help you customize your presentation.
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Summary and Presentation:
The groups will do presentations.
Presentations will be done on the overhead projector or using the computer screen with projector.
The projects done with oak tag will be presented at the board.
Homework:
Find on the web the attendance rate of two schools in the neighborhood where you live. How do they compare the attendance rate at our school? |