3.4 Projects for the classroom
To aid and reinforce learner understanding, it Is important to refer to the data handling process whenever the opportunity arises, this may be in subject areas other than mathematics such as PE, geography and science. Whenever data is being collected, organised, processed, displayed and interpreted, the PCAI cycle should be part of the discussion.
It may not be relevant or appropriate to spend a lot of time on every stage of the cycle in every activity involving data, but any data-related activity should be clearly framed in the context of the problem-solving approach that is represented by the PCAI cycle. To do this, any educators involved in working with data as part of the content of their subject should have an awareness and understanding of the statistical modelling process.
Below are some ideas for data handling projects that can be used in the maths classroom. Each starts with a hypothesis. You could give learners a blank PCAI cycle with headings as a structure to organise their plan. The objective is to get them thinking in detail about the questions they want to answer and what information is needed before they start collecting any data.
Data handling projects
Dogs are the most popular family pet in the UK.
Can be investigated using a class and family/friend survey or by researching pets for sale online.
The most common car colour in the UK is silver.
This can be investigated in school in the car park and/or at home via watching cars go by the window or using car sales data online.
Friday is the most popular day for people to buy school lunch from the canteen.
There are several lunch related surveys that could be used to help guide the school canteen with their food choice selection.
People with big hands can throw further.
Links to PE and good for practising measuring skills. Also good for identifying need for control variables e.g. throwing the same object in the same wind conditions. NB Need to define ‘big’!
England is the most populated area of the United Kingdom.
Whilst this could be assessed quite simply using population data initially, it can then be nicely developed into regions, cities and towns so there is scope for further refinement using the data handling cycle. Linked to geography.