Data Analysis

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Data Analysis Problem Solving in the Classroom

• James W. Epler, M.Ed.Educational Technology
  ResourcesGrossmont Union High School
  District619.593.2700 jepler_at_guhsd.netpresentati
  on available at http//edtech.guhsd.net/help.php

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Inspiration

• ISTE Learning Leading (vol. 31 num. 2)
• Beyond Show and Tell Using Spreadsheets to
  Solve Problems.
• Written by Mary Burns
• Southwest Educational Development Laboratory SEDL
• Active Learning With Technology ALT Portfolio
• Reapportioning Congress

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Merits of Excel

• Unsexy technology?
• BUT available and accessible
• Used as a display tool only, if at all!!
• Charts and graphs with pre-generated data
• Calculator?
• DATA is a primary resource (e.g. census,
  immigration, labor stats, weather (geography),
  economic, etc.)!

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Merits of Excel (cont.)

• Use Excel to interpret and CREATE knowledge.
• Can be used to stimulate analytical thought,
  create models, enhance problem-solving skills,
  inter-disciplinary, CREATIVE too!
• Real world preparation
• Forecasting, cause-effect relationships, look for
  trends.
• NOT just for math or science classrooms!

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Activity Overview

• Census Representation Relationship
• Count determines number of a States
  representatives
• Funding impact.
• Reapportionment
• Redistributing the 435 members of House based on
  census.
• Redistricting
• Introduce the concepts of politics and partisan
• Introduce the term gerrymanding

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Task

• How do you reapportion at national level based on
  2000 census data?
• Create teams of liasons that will advise
  Congressional task force on how to reapportion.
• Roles (Chief Legislator, Chief Number Cruncher,
  Math Guru, Time Keeper, Lifesaver)
• Deliverables
• Create a table showing new reapportionment data
• Chart showing States that have GAINED and LOST
• A presentation that explains reapportionment
  method including your assumptions.

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Task (cont.)

• Extra Credit highest to lowest voting power per
  person for the 50 states
• With and without Senators
• Chart showing ratio of representatives to
  population.
• Introduce Connecticut Compromise 1787
• Factors (1st 2 provided) download spreadsheet
• Population of each state
• Number of reps apportioned currently
• Method of recalculating must be fair and
  justifiable cant increase total
  representatives every state has to have at least
  one representative.

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Relevance To Curriculum

• CA History Social Science Content Standard
• Principles of American Democracy Economics
• 12.2, 12.3, 12.4, 12.6, 12.7
• CA English Language Arts Grades 11-12
• Writing Strategies
• 1.8 Integrate databases, graphics and
  spreadsheets into word-processed documents
• Writing Speaking Applications
• 2.4 and 2.6 Deliver multimedia presentations

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Demonstration
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Historical Methods

• Jefferson Method
• Fractional remainders discarded (favored large
  states)
• Webster Method
• Fractional remainder greater than .5 (round up)
• Hamilton Method
• Alabama paradox
• Method of Equal Proportions (current)

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Additional Resources

• http//edtech.guhsd.net/help.php
• Keyword search on data or CUE
• Classrooms That Excel Web site
• Data site indexes
• Spreadsheet used in activity
• This PPT presentation