Data Analysis in the Middle Grades

1
Data Analysis in the Middle Grades
Analyzing Students Thinking
Andrew T. Wilson, Associate Professor Mathematics
Department Austin Peay State University,
Clarksville, TN wilsona_at_apsu.edu http//www.apsu.e
du/educ/mathed/wilson.htm
2
The problem presented to the 7th grade students

• Your task will be to build a parachute for
  testing that utilizes the least amount of
  material, but has the greatest hang time. Each
  group's parachute will be tested and the data
  collected will be used to design the parachute
  for the client.

3
The problem presented to the 7th grade students

• At test time, your group will be asked to
  present a written report to the rest of the
  department that describes the decisions that your
  group made concerning your parachute design.
  Calculate the cost of the parachute at 1.00 per
  square cm of "silk."

4
The problem presented to the 7th grade students
5
Students Building Parachutesand Calculating Cost
6
Students Building Parachutesand Calculating Cost
7
Students Building Parachutesand Calculating Cost
8
Students Building Parachutesand Calculating Cost
9
Other Parachute Designs
10
Other Parachute Designs
11
Other Parachute Designs
12
Testing the Parachutes for Hangtime
13
Challenge

• Use the data to determine which parachute you
  think should be selected as "best." Make a
  representation of the data that you can use to
  select the best parachute.
• Talk in groups about what type of
  representation you could use. Think about how or
  if any technology use makes sense.

14
Challenge
15
Technology for Representations
16
Technology for Representations
17
Technology for Representations
18
Students Representations
19
Students Representations
20
Students Representations
21
Students Representations
22
Other Student Representations
23
Other Student Representations
24
THE END
Thank You!
Andrew T. Wilson, Associate Professor Mathematics
Department Austin Peay State University,
Clarksville, TN wilsona_at_apsu.edu http//www.apsu.e
du/educ/mathed/wilson.htm