Tinkerplots Dr. Carryn Bellomo UNLV Department of Mathematical Sciences

Outline of Seminar Overview of Tinkerplots Overview of Tinkerplots Handouts Handouts Classroom Activities Classroom Activities Conclusion Conclusion

Overview of Tinkerplots Helps you see trends and patterns in data Helps you see trends and patterns in data Helps you make graphs and reports to present findings Helps you make graphs and reports to present findings There are sample data sets in: There are sample data sets in: – health – science and nature – social studies – sports

Overview of Tinkerplots The program has several movies, located in the Help folder, such as: The program has several movies, located in the Help folder, such as: – Adding Data (entering your own data set) – Comparing Groups (Occupational Data) – Exploring Relationships (Ozone Levels) – Making Common Graphs (Student Data) – Tinkerplot Basics (Cat Data) Let’s view the Tinker Plots Basics Movie!

Handouts The Tinkerplot Quick reference card will help you troubleshoot and will serve as a quick reference guide The Tinkerplot Quick reference card will help you troubleshoot and will serve as a quick reference guide The activity handouts (beginning with the Men’s 100m Dash) can be used as lesson plans in the classroom. This is taken from Exploring Data.pdf in the Help Folder. The activity handouts (beginning with the Men’s 100m Dash) can be used as lesson plans in the classroom. This is taken from Exploring Data.pdf in the Help Folder. Excel “How To” handout Excel “How To” handout

Classroom Activities 1. Old Faithful 2. Dinosaurs 3. Men’s 100-Meter Dash at the Olympics 4. Men and Women at the Olympics 5. Body Measurements 6. Australian Students 7. The Yo-Yo Mystery

Activity – Old Faithful Here we will explore 222 eruptions of Old Faithful, a geyser in Yellowstone National Park, WY, in August 1978 and 1979 Here we will explore 222 eruptions of Old Faithful, a geyser in Yellowstone National Park, WY, in August 1978 and 1979 The data cards given have information on The data cards given have information on – Order number of observation – Year of observation – Day of month in August – Duration of eruption in minutes – Minutes to next eruption in minutes

Activity – Old Faithful Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: A sign posted at the Old Faithful visitor's center lets visitors know about how many minutes it will be to the next eruption. A sign posted at the Old Faithful visitor's center lets visitors know about how many minutes it will be to the next eruption. To make these predictions, the park uses a formula that “proves to be accurate, plus or minus 10 minutes, 90% of the time.” To make these predictions, the park uses a formula that “proves to be accurate, plus or minus 10 minutes, 90% of the time.”

Activity – Old Faithful Open “Old Faithful.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Science and Nature Open “Old Faithful.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Science and Nature How should we organize the data to predict the time to next eruption? How should we organize the data to predict the time to next eruption?

Activity – Old Faithful Investigate the Data: There are two cases that do not have data on “how long to the next eruption time”. Case 106 and 222. There are two cases that do not have data on “how long to the next eruption time”. Case 106 and 222. Let’s see if we can use our analysis to determine the time to the next eruption Let’s see if we can use our analysis to determine the time to the next eruption

Activity – Dinosaurs Here we will explore characteristics of dinosaurs Here we will explore characteristics of dinosaurs The data cards given have information on The data cards given have information on – Name of dinosaur – Food preference – Sub-classification – Type of hip, and teeth – Average adult length, height, and weight – Number of limbs used for walking – Continent lived on – Geological period lived in, and no. of years ago

Activity – Dinosaurs Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about dinosaurs? Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about dinosaurs? Do we expect any relationships between attributes? Do we expect any relationships between attributes? – Weight vs. height – Hip type vs. diet…

Activity – Dinosaurs Open “Dinosaurs.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Science and Nature Open “Dinosaurs.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Science and Nature How should we organize the data to answer our questions? How should we organize the data to answer our questions?

Activity – Dinosaurs Investigate the Data: Over the years of their existence, did dinosaurs tend to get bigger, smaller, or stay the same size? Over the years of their existence, did dinosaurs tend to get bigger, smaller, or stay the same size? Did dinosaurs who ate meat (carnivores) tend to be larger or smaller than those who ate plants (herbivores)? If so, about how different in size were these two types? Did dinosaurs who ate meat (carnivores) tend to be larger or smaller than those who ate plants (herbivores)? If so, about how different in size were these two types?

Activity – Men’s 100m Dash Here we will explore the winning times for the men’s 100 meter dash from all the Olympic games from 1896 to 2000 Here we will explore the winning times for the men’s 100 meter dash from all the Olympic games from 1896 to 2000 The data cards given have much more information than we actually need… all we are looking for here is the year and the men’s gold winning time for the 100m dash The data cards given have much more information than we actually need… all we are looking for here is the year and the men’s gold winning time for the 100m dash Pages of Activity Book

Activity – Men’s 100m Dash Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: How many seconds do you think it would take the fastest man today to run 100m (about a football field)? How many seconds do you think it would take the fastest man today to run 100m (about a football field)? Do you think this time is different today than previous years? Why or why not? Do you think this time is different today than previous years? Why or why not?

Activity – Men’s 100m Dash Open “Olympics 100 Meter.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters Open “Olympics 100 Meter.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters How should we configure our plot to answer our questions? How should we configure our plot to answer our questions?

Activity – Men’s 100m Dash Investigate the Data: When was there the greatest change in running times? Why do you think this is so? When was there the greatest change in running times? Why do you think this is so? What has happened to the running times over the years? How could you account for this? What has happened to the running times over the years? How could you account for this? Can you project the times for future years? Can you project the times for future years?

Activity – Men’s 100m Dash Side Note – Using Excel to Add Trendlines: You can add Linear and exponential function trendlines in MS Excel You can add Linear and exponential function trendlines in MS Excel This adds formality to the questions we asked previously This adds formality to the questions we asked previously

Using Excel – Men’s 100m Dash Copy the data and paste it into Excel Copy the data and paste it into Excel Add a chart (scatterplot) Add a chart (scatterplot) Use excel to find the linear approximation (least squares line) Use excel to find the linear approximation (least squares line) Use the equation to graph your own line, and use it to predict missing or future values Use the equation to graph your own line, and use it to predict missing or future values “How To” specifics are on your excel handout

Activity – Men vs. Women Here we will be comparing the winning times/distances of men and women in the Olympics over the years Here we will be comparing the winning times/distances of men and women in the Olympics over the years The data cards given have the gold medal times for men and women for each year in The data cards given have the gold medal times for men and women for each year in – 100m – 200m – High jump and – Long jump Pages of Activity Book

Activity – Men vs. Women Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: Do you think there will be a difference in the 100m dash between men and women? If so, why, and by how much? Do you think there will be a difference in the 100m dash between men and women? If so, why, and by how much? If there is a difference between gold medal times/distances, is it consistent throughout the years? Or perhaps is the gap getting smaller (or larger)? If there is a difference between gold medal times/distances, is it consistent throughout the years? Or perhaps is the gap getting smaller (or larger)?

Activity – Men vs. Women Open “Olympics Men Women.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters Open “Olympics Men Women.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters How should we configure the data to get the best answers to our questions? How should we configure the data to get the best answers to our questions?

Activity – Men vs. Women Investigate the Data: With the 100m dash, does one gender out perform another? If yes, by how much, and is this consistent through the years? With the 100m dash, does one gender out perform another? If yes, by how much, and is this consistent through the years? Let’s look at the 200m dash… Let’s look at the 200m dash… Let’s look at an Excel file with this information Let’s look at an Excel file with this information

Activity – Body Measurements Here we will explore characteristics of Body measurements of adults (247 men and 260 women) who were exercising several hours a week Here we will explore characteristics of Body measurements of adults (247 men and 260 women) who were exercising several hours a week The data cards given have information on: The data cards given have information on: – Gender, age, weight, height – Pelvic diameter in centimeters – Chest depth and diameter in centimeters – Elbow, wrist, knee and ankle diameter in centimeters – Shoulder, chest, waist, abdominal, hip, thigh, bicep, forearm, knee, calf, ankle and wrist girth in centimeters

Activity – Body Measurements Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about these measurements? Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about these measurements? Do we expect any relationships between attributes? Do we expect any relationships between attributes?

Activity – Body Measurements Open “Body Measurements.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Health Open “Body Measurements.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Health How should we organize the data to answer our questions? How should we organize the data to answer our questions?

Activity – Body Measurements Investigate the Data: For which measurement are males and females most different? For which measurement are males and females most different? For which measurement are they most alike? Explain. For which measurement are they most alike? Explain.

Activity – Australian Students Here we will explore characteristics of 159 students in south Australia in grades 8-12 Here we will explore characteristics of 159 students in south Australia in grades 8-12 The data cards given have information on: The data cards given have information on: – Gender, height in cm, birthday, grade level – Type of school, public/private – Travel time to school – Number of people in household – Type of driver's license, whether they have their own car – Whether they have their own mobile phone – Whether they have access to home computer, and Internet – Weekday hours spent watching TV before school

Activity – Australian Students Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about these students? Given the data we have, what kinds of questions can we answer about these students? Do we expect any relationships between attributes? Do we expect any relationships between attributes?

Activity – Australian Students Open “Australian Students.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Social Studies Open “Australian Students.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Social Studies How should we organize the data to answer our questions? How should we organize the data to answer our questions?

Activity – Australian Students Investigate the Data: Is there evidence in these data of a gender difference in pay? If so, about how big is the difference? Is there evidence in these data of a gender difference in pay? If so, about how big is the difference? What differences do you notice, if any, between public school students and private school students? What differences do you notice, if any, between public school students and private school students?

Activity – The YoYo Mystery Here we will be looking at computer driven data from a yo-yo factory to determine when a break in occurred Here we will be looking at computer driven data from a yo-yo factory to determine when a break in occurred The data cards given have The data cards given have – Elapsed time – Hour – Period – Number_YoYos – Group Pages of Activity Book

Activity – The YoYo Mystery Let’s Think About This Before We Begin: The manager is the prime suspect; he is the last to leave and first to arrive. When are his whereabouts unaccounted for? The manager is the prime suspect; he is the last to leave and first to arrive. When are his whereabouts unaccounted for?

Activity – The YoYo Mystery Open “Yo Yo Mystery.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters Open “Yo Yo Mystery.tp” Located in: Data and Demos  Exploring Data Starters How should we configure the data to determine when the break-in occurred? How should we configure the data to determine when the break-in occurred?

Activity – The YoYo Mystery Investigate the Data: About what time could the break in have taken place? About what time could the break in have taken place? With this information, could the suspect have committed the break-in? With this information, could the suspect have committed the break-in?

Conclusion

Conclusion This presentation and handouts can be found at: This presentation and handouts can be found at: