Using Large datasets to teach quantitative reasoning and analytical writing in a global climate change course
submitted by Jeff Niemitz, Dickinson College
Author ProfileThis is a partially developed activity description. It is included in the collection because it contains ideas useful for teaching even though it is incomplete.
Activities use EXCEL to manipulate and statistically analyze large climate databases of precip., temp, stream discharge, tree ring data, ice core data, and ENSO to determine climate relationships and forcing mechanisms. Effects of continentality, altitude and latitude across the globe are ascertained to enhance learning about climate zones.
GSA Poster (PowerPoint 1.5MB Nov7 03)
Learning Goals
Content/Concepts:
Higher Order Thinking Skills:
drawing conclusions from data
developing sci. arguments
developing sci. arguments
Other Skills:
graphing; analytical writing, EXCEL facility, data collection and synthesis; basic statistics; web resource searching
Context
Instructional Level:
9-12; undergrad entry level
Skills Needed:
basic computer skills
Role of Activity in a Course:
sequence of exercises that build on each other to develop EXCEL skills and data analysis skills; done in lab setting
Data, Tools and Logistics
Required Tools:
computers with internet access and EXCEL
Logistical Challenges:
range of EXCEL skills of students (none to quite adequate)
Evaluation
Evaluation Goals:
ability to generate a readable and useful graph(s)
paper which presents the data, the data analysis and a coherent and substantiated conclusion
paper which presents the data, the data analysis and a coherent and substantiated conclusion
Evaluation Techniques:
Assessment of graph readability over the courses of the exercises; analytical papers with good data analysis and reasonable conclusions based on data
Description
Addressing Quantitative Reasoning and Analytical Writing Skills Improvement using Global and Local Data Sets in an introductory Global Climate Change course
NIEMITZ, JEFFREY W., Dept. of Geology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 17013, niemitz@dickinson.edu
Many undergraduate students cannot adequately interpret large, complex datasets even when presented in graphical form. The need to improve our student's quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills has lead to the development of a series of integrated exercises in our introductory global climate change course. Global climate datasets are excellent resources for helping students improve their quantitative reasoning skills and understand of temporal and spatial interactive global processes. In an effort to provide formative assessment for student progress in both these critical skills, labs start with simple data extraction from newspapers and hand graphing and culminate in large and complex database analyses using Excel with computer graphing skills and basic statistics integrated into short written assignments. In advance of the first exercise, students gather a week's worth of data from their hometown newspapers. Then the students find their state climatologist's website and download the same data from the year before. They graph these data for both time periods, compare them, and turn their data and reasoned interpretations into a two-page paper. The following week a few students' examples are highlighted to show the range of weather and climate change. By analyzing student results anonymously all learn the kinds of misinterpretations that can result and the depth of analysis that can be done even with a small dataset. Dataset size and complexity increases in subsequent labs using climate phenomena such as ENSO, monsoon intensity, and drought to explore the relationships between global climate change and local manifestations of those changes over time. Datasets come from the websites including NCDC climate, USGS stream gauge, and ITRR tree ring records. Besides learning the basic functions of Excel, students' data analyses include regression and basic spectral analysis. Improved quantitative and written skills do translate to other courses and, hopefully, the quantitative literacy all citizens need in the 21st century.
NIEMITZ, JEFFREY W., Dept. of Geology, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA 17013, niemitz@dickinson.edu
Many undergraduate students cannot adequately interpret large, complex datasets even when presented in graphical form. The need to improve our student's quantitative reasoning and analytical writing skills has lead to the development of a series of integrated exercises in our introductory global climate change course. Global climate datasets are excellent resources for helping students improve their quantitative reasoning skills and understand of temporal and spatial interactive global processes. In an effort to provide formative assessment for student progress in both these critical skills, labs start with simple data extraction from newspapers and hand graphing and culminate in large and complex database analyses using Excel with computer graphing skills and basic statistics integrated into short written assignments. In advance of the first exercise, students gather a week's worth of data from their hometown newspapers. Then the students find their state climatologist's website and download the same data from the year before. They graph these data for both time periods, compare them, and turn their data and reasoned interpretations into a two-page paper. The following week a few students' examples are highlighted to show the range of weather and climate change. By analyzing student results anonymously all learn the kinds of misinterpretations that can result and the depth of analysis that can be done even with a small dataset. Dataset size and complexity increases in subsequent labs using climate phenomena such as ENSO, monsoon intensity, and drought to explore the relationships between global climate change and local manifestations of those changes over time. Datasets come from the websites including NCDC climate, USGS stream gauge, and ITRR tree ring records. Besides learning the basic functions of Excel, students' data analyses include regression and basic spectral analysis. Improved quantitative and written skills do translate to other courses and, hopefully, the quantitative literacy all citizens need in the 21st century.