Workshop Location: Preston, ID
Goals of the Science Experiment (e.g., CMS, LIGO) (If you are working on the Cosmic Ray e-Lab, you can leave this section out.): This is an AP Statistics course. The student should have already been introduced to presenting numbers in a variety of formats, including equations and graphs. In this lesson, which is expected to last approximately 4 class periods, the student will work in groups of 4-5 to not only plot data using a histogram, but they will interpret their results and present the results to the class by poster and presentation software (e.g. powerpoint).
Grade(s)/Context: 11/12 Stats Class
Challenges: Giving enough science background to make the data meaningful, yet not too much to digress from course outline
When/Where: 2nd semester 2011/12
Learning Objectives:The student will plot a histogram of cms data.
The student will interpret the plotted data.
While plotting the histogram is a worthwhile endeavor, a goal of the course is to discriminate the appropriate data within the appropriate headings. If necessary the student should perform calculations using measured data. The student will describe the calculations and present the results as a poster and in a 5 minute group presentation.
Standards:
The state standards (emphasis added)
I. Exploring Data: Describing patterns and departures from patterns.
A. Constructing and interpreting graphical displays of distributions of univariate data (dotplot, stemplot, histogram, cumulative frequency plot)
II. Sampling and Experimentation: Planning and conducting a study.
A. Overview of methods of data collection
B. Planning and conducting surveys
C. Planning and conducting experiments
D. Generalizability of results and types of conclusions that can be drawn from observational studies, experiments, and surveys
As stated in the Learner Objectives the student will construct a histogram(s). The design of the histogram and preparation of the poster will include the information of the method of data collection and the conclusions that can be acquired.
Steps:
The student will use data assigned to determine: first, what is the data; second is the data categorical or quantitative; third, when, where and how the data was collected. The student should come to understand the answers to the previous questions to determine if additional results are needed to be tabulated. As each group makes conclusions regarding their data, they will submit a proposal to begin the analysis phase of the project.
The student, following their proposal, will calculate the additional information if necessary and create histograms of varying bin widths of the data. Using the histograms showing what was measured, the groups will infer reasonable conclusions and submit a draft of the poster.
Once approved, the groups will be allowed to continue work on the poster and preparing for the presentation portion of the project. The time of their presentation was selected when the data was first disbursed.
Follow-Up Date:
6 Apr 2012
