- #1
brainpushups
- 453
- 197
I'm designing a course for 9th grade students that focuses on experimental methods in science. One topic that will come at the beginning of the course will be how to display experimental data graphically, including estimates of experimental error.
I'm looking for some advice about what software to train students on (probably a spreadsheet program, but it doesn't need to be). I'd like to train them in 9th grade on software that they would use throughout high school and beyond. Google sheets is so close to being adequate, but it does not easily allow for independent uncertainties to be displayed. There are a few workarounds, but they are clunky and I'd like to keep the instructions as simple as possible for 9th grade students. Also, horizontal error bars are not possible.
One issue is that many students use Chromebooks and so a significant number of students would need to access software in the cloud. Also, we don't have school computers any more so installing software at school is not an option.
I thought I had figured out a solution because Microsoft offers Office365 for free on Chromebooks that are under a certain size so the students who get their computers through the school would be able to access this for free. I just tried it myself and I was disappointed to see that there is NO error bar option in the online version of Excel. Apple's Numbers also doesn't have error bars as an option when accessed on the icloud drive. C'mon!
Of course, students can print and draw error by hand but that seems ridiculous with the ready access to technology that you'd think would be able to do what is usually so simple! This also makes online submission more difficult, but maybe I'll just have to settle for that.
So, if anybody has any suggestions I'd love to read 'em! I have exactly $0 to spend.
PS
One final thought that just came to me is to write some scripts in Python or R that students could change and use, but I'm not sure I like that idea yet. In terms of 'simple' this probably ranks below the google sheets workarounds though it would generate some slick looking student work.
I'm looking for some advice about what software to train students on (probably a spreadsheet program, but it doesn't need to be). I'd like to train them in 9th grade on software that they would use throughout high school and beyond. Google sheets is so close to being adequate, but it does not easily allow for independent uncertainties to be displayed. There are a few workarounds, but they are clunky and I'd like to keep the instructions as simple as possible for 9th grade students. Also, horizontal error bars are not possible.
One issue is that many students use Chromebooks and so a significant number of students would need to access software in the cloud. Also, we don't have school computers any more so installing software at school is not an option.
I thought I had figured out a solution because Microsoft offers Office365 for free on Chromebooks that are under a certain size so the students who get their computers through the school would be able to access this for free. I just tried it myself and I was disappointed to see that there is NO error bar option in the online version of Excel. Apple's Numbers also doesn't have error bars as an option when accessed on the icloud drive. C'mon!
Of course, students can print and draw error by hand but that seems ridiculous with the ready access to technology that you'd think would be able to do what is usually so simple! This also makes online submission more difficult, but maybe I'll just have to settle for that.
So, if anybody has any suggestions I'd love to read 'em! I have exactly $0 to spend.
PS
One final thought that just came to me is to write some scripts in Python or R that students could change and use, but I'm not sure I like that idea yet. In terms of 'simple' this probably ranks below the google sheets workarounds though it would generate some slick looking student work.