Using data in the classroom Workshop facilitators: Cindy Shellito Kathy Surpless
Jul 12, 2015
Using data in the classroom
Workshop facilitators:Cindy Shellito
Kathy Surpless
Brainstorming
1. What does it mean to use data in the classroom?
2. Why have students use data? What are the learning goals for students?
Designing activities
What is the learning goal?
How much time do you have?
What do your students already know and what are your students comfortable with? ◦ Are they familiar with Excel, or other software?
◦ To what extent will you need to ‘package’ the data?
Will students work in teams or individually?
How will you frame your activity?◦ Will students do the activity first, as an active introduction
to specific content?
◦ Will students complete the activity as a follow-up or building on content?
How will you assess your activity?
Example 1: Using CO2 data
Many sources for CO2 data available online:◦ Mauna Loa observatory: daily, monthly, annual data since 1958
◦ Globally averaged surface data since 1980◦ Vostok ice core data (to 414,000 BP)
Plot data at different time scales and for different time periods◦ Assess trends◦ Compare rates and direction of change◦ Make predictions based on trends◦ Discuss size of datasets
Example 1: Using CO2 data
Example 2: Using temperature and precipitation data
Students work in groups to examine tropical Pacific SST and precipitation data over 10-yr time span. Used as intro to El Niño in an intro-level meteorology course.
Students learn to read lat-lon plots; identify year to year changes; make connections between SST and location of precipitation.
Example 2: Using temperature and precipitation data
Example 3: Using grain-size data
Collect grain size data using sieves (for disaggregated sample) and thin section measurements
Plot grain size data using Excel Calculate statistics to assess size range and
sorting Plot multiple samples to compare sizes and
sorting, assess size grading◦ Think about how different data collection methods
impact interpretation of results
Work with large dataset of grain size data already collected
Example 2: Using grain-size data
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
-1.00 0.00 1.00 2.00 3.00 4.00 5.00 6.00
Cu
mu
lati
ve P
ercen
t
Grain size (phi)
95-DG-9
96-DG-23
96-DG-24
97-DG-53
95-DG-10
96-DG-26
97-DG-54
96-DG-27
Example 4: Using global climate models
Students examine global climate model output available online and consider impact of global warming on tropical cyclone initiation and evolution.
Available online at:http://serc.carleton.edu/NAGTWorkshops/hurricanes/activities/28268.html
Example 4: Using global climate models
Sample climate model output available online at the National Center for Atmospheric Research
Your turn!
Take a moment to identify an activity or a data set that you would like bring into one of your classes.
1. What do you want your students to learn from the activity?
2. What resources or tools might you need to complete the activity?
3. How will you know what students have learned from this activity?