Data presentation and interpretation
... how to gain top marks!

It is important that the data collected by students is suitably presented when they write up their findings. If this is done correctly, then making sense of what they have collected becomes easier, and their interpretation will improve their results.

Suggested lesson plan ...

Starter - Students match the data to the method of presentation. The Smartboard / Cleverboard activity is designed as a simple five minute activity to get the students involved in the lesson. Hopefully the files will generate ideas for your own coursework activity.

Main - When the students start to write up their results, they will need to show the examiner the data they collected, and what it has revealed to them about the project.

So students should consider following the approach: present the data at the top of the page, then underneath, describe the results [patterns and so on] and why the patterns exist ... also what the results tell us about the coursework issue [in this case Canvey needing a third road.]

Students should present their information using maps, graphs, tables and diagrams.They should make sure they are all clearly labelled with a key or a title where necessary.

To get the students into this way of thinking, I normally give them a mini-starter activity after I have described the process above. This relates back to the survey which the students took part in back in lesson 4. We look at the raw data, and then using Excel, plot the data using different methods of poresentation [line graphs, pie charts and so on] and then discuss how each method of presentation either adds or diminishes the value of the data.

We then move onto the data the students have collected and discuss what different techniques can be used to present it. An example of the type of data that the students collected is shown below as links. I provide plenty of opportunity for different data presentation techniques, once students see beyond pie charts and bar graphs.

Company questionaires
Traffic survey [as collected by the previous year's students]

Plenary - Students should be invited to the front of the class to present their data to the rest of the class. A session of peer assessment can then take place with the rest of the class giving their opinions on each other's work.