Webquest Teaching Guide

Introduction
This WebQuest is designed to help students explore sample data that they collect and guide them to making informal inferences about sample population means and standard deviations.

MM2D1. Using sample data, students will make informal inferences about
population means and standard deviations.
a. Pose a question and collect sample data from at least two different
populations.
b. Understand and calculate the means and standard deviations of sets of data.
c. Use means and standard deviations to compare data sets.
d. Compare the means and standard deviations of random samples with the
corresponding population parameters, including those population parameters
for normal distributions. Observe that the different sample
means vary from one sample to the next. Observe that the distribution of the
sample means has less variability than the population distribution.

Aim
This WebQuest organizes important information about population mean, sample mean, population standard deviation, sample standard deviation, median, mode, range, and interquartile range, so students can discover and interpret meaning from statistical data. This WebQuest also aims to show students how to compare means and standard deviations of data sets. Students will be exposed to many ways of collecting data and organizing them graphically.

Rationale
In Math 2, Georgia high school students are required to explore statistical data that they have collected or that they may be interested in. Calculating the mean and standard deviation of data sets allows students to compare statistical data and acquire a deeper understanding of the differences in the data sets. Students can make inferences about the data sets and maybe understand the relationships among data and what may influence data. Everyday Americans are bombarded with statistics through their exposure to the media. Often times statistics are used to persuade an audience to think a particular way. Through this WebQuest students will be able to explore any statistical data that they find interesting and be able to make their own assumptions based on the comparisons of mean and standard deviation instead of mindlessly agreeing with the strong opinions of others.

General Goals

  1. Analyze the meaning of the mean, median, mode, range, IQR, standard deviation, and mean absolute deviation of your data.
  2. Search for quantitative data that interests the student
  3. Graph the data using one of the methods discussed in class
  4. Interpret results of the data collect based on the mean and standard deviation
  5. Compare and interpret data from more than one data set of a relative subject

Subject Matter Description

  1. Definitions of key vocabulary terms and how to perform calculations (population standard deviation, population mean, sample standard deviation, sample mean, median, mode, range, and interquartile range)
  2. Construction of graphical representations of the data (box plots, dot plots, histograms, and stem and leaf plots)
  3. Make conclusions based on interpretation of data
  4. Organize data using computerized spreadsheets
  5. Explain data using descriptive statistics techniques
  6. Cite sources of data

Learner Description
This WebQuest is designed for students in Georgia’s Math 2 curriculum that are being exposed to the statistics unit that relates to the following GPS.

Prerequisite

  1. Facility with web browser and Internet access
  2. Basic knowledge of order of operations
  3. Mastery of Math 1 statistics curriculum units
  4. Basic computer knowledge or skills
  5. Basic computer keyboarding
  6. Cooperative learning skills

Learning Objectives

On completing this WebQuest, learners will be able to:

  1. Construct two graphical representations appropriate for the data collected
  2. Calculate mean, median, mode, range, interquartile range, and standard deviation by any method of choosing (by hand, calculator, or computerized spreadsheet)
  3. Interpret results from calculations by using descriptive statistics
  4. Collect quantitative data
  5. Create display of results using basic computer word processor or graphic display programs like Glogster

Materials

  1. NBA scores worksheet
  2. Collecting class data worksheet
  3. Computer with Internet connection
  4. Definitions and explanation of key terms
  5. Notes over calculating mean, standard deviation, and interquartile range
  6. Examples of graphical representations
  7. Tutorial for using Google spreadsheet
  8. Web-based resources
  9. Rubric for student evaluation
  10. Tutorial for using Glogster for display

Instructional Plan

  1. Teacher review of statistical calculations and graphical constructions learned in Math 1
  2. Show students how to calculate standard deviation by hand prior to starting the WebQuest (using the table method to organize the operations involved in calculating standard deviation may be helpful)
  3. Show students how to calculate standard deviation using the list function in their graphing calculator
  4. Practice worksheet that the students work together on to calculate and interpret the mean and standard deviation of NBA scores
  5. Introduce curriculum web after completing an activity where data is collected as a class and mean and standard deviation are calculated and interpreted. The teacher should lead the discussion and offer interpretations during this activity.
  6. Divide class in groups of two by pairing weaker students with those of stronger math ability
  7. Allow students time to search and explore possible topics that interest them
  8. Introduce the WebQuest activity by having every student review the project rubric while the teacher explains requirements
  9. Create daily completion goals and have each group checkoff that they have done them before leaving the class
  10. Accelerated students could create their own quantitative data collection surveys using Google forms and send them out to other students in school or post them to a Google site to collect student data.

Plans for Assessment and Evaluation

  1. Daily Goals for each session are laid out in the following outline.
  2. Each group will be given an overall assessment by the requirements in the attached rubric.
  3. Students will complete an embedded online survey to evaluate the ease of use, appropriate instruction, and how helpful the resources were for the curriculum web.