Data+Literacy

Data Literacy and the Graphical Representation of Information Jesse Berg, MSIT, Med Session # AH28 Monday 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM

http://visualleap.wikispaces.com/

We began by discussing inquiry- it boils down to answering a question through research - how to “take a mess and make something out of it”

Inquiry encompasses 21st century skills Inquiry starts with questions – produces more questions

Important – we live in a world where there is so much data- we need to understand an interpret it

Simple data representation: cartograms

Cartograms tell a story – transfer data into stories

Example from the wiki- map from Univ of Mich showing red and blue states alter the data to represent the state as a population – changes the digital story picture

Cartograms promote inquiry and visual thinking – good way to question assumptions which is what inquiry is all about

GIS – Graphical Information Systems

GIS specialists emerging in all sectors- area of tremendous growth. Many people speculate that murders have dropped in Phildelphia specifically because of GIS. Police in philadelphia use GIS to allocate resources.

Showed an example using the software in our packet- GIS Solutions for Education- sets of maps and graphics that can be manipulated.

Start by making a data base – import information from websites, etc.

Using an example of earthquake data he produced a visual map of earthquakes by pulling information into the software- it automatically created a map. Then went out to the United States Geographical Service and downloaded live data to add into the graphic representation- exciting!

Questions we explored:

Q- How can maps and graphics help us to make meaning? Q- How might your students react to seeing live data that brings the information down to their lives? Q- How can we use GIS to do this? Q- For students: what do I need to know about the data that created the visual in order to understand the meaning?

We were given a free GIS program. This program not only allows you to manipulate data and create maps populated by the data- it also allows you to change the maps you create – size, shape, etc. (ex- change flat map of world to eliptical)

Inspire Data

Same process – can import materials – this program toggles between data (table) view and plot view. Allow your students to see and manipulate raw data. Most of what they see is data that has been analyzed and plotted to give meaning, students rarely see what data is before we give it any criteria or organization

We explored the program Inspire Data from Inspiration.

Inspire Data: 1- input data 2- apply criteria (will lay out data on an x and y coordinate) 3- toggle between data and plot view 4- alter and tweak the plot view (can add lines) 5- add notes under the plot view 6- can continue to manipulate data/views – and take a camera shot of each plot to save as a slide

Q- How will creating data maps and understanding the process help kids become data literate? ( The consensus was that it is important for kids to be able to read, interpret and understand data and representations of data.

The Process: Explore: What is a map? What is a graphic representation? How do these tell a story? What story do I want to tell? How can I tell it with graphics? How can I tell it with maps? Use prompts/real world questions to teach students about data.

Example: Using data indicating frequency and intensity of earthquakes we need to create a visual representation that will allow us to analyze the information we have and answer the question: We need to send rescue workers in to Haiti- how do we know the best time?

Students create a plot of siesmic action for the region- plot it out in different ways changing the criteria: activity over time? Activity compared to depth? And begin to reach conclusions about what information is important. Note: point out that you must use data in more than one way to get a well rounded picture.

Inspire data also includes an online survey feature where you can launch a survey allowing students to go to a website and add information to your work.

Inspire Data easy to use – Help feature will coach you. Drives writing about data- the note feature, the online feature. Inspire Data allows point plots, bar graphs, Venn view, pie chart views. Inspire Data comes with built in data across the curriculum- don't need to always find your own data

GIS software helps you “build the map” from imported data Inspire Data helps you “build the data base”

Dig into Data! - because data visualization helps us to problem solve and make decisions

Check out the presentor's website for lots more links and information:

[|www.thevisualleap.com]