Identify & Explore Variability in Your Data

DLS 2.0 Resources

During the "Identify & Explore Variability in Your Data" workshop in the Data Literacy Series, we explore how variability is a natural part of the world but a challenging aspect of teaching science. We review tips and tricks for help students to understand what the variability in their data teaches us about the question at hand, when to use averages, all of the data, or both in our teaching, and ways that we can help students better understand the probabilistic nature of science. We dive into graphing lessons from your classes to see what tweaks we can make to aid the students use and understanding of variability.

Resources from workshops:

WHAT DOES VARIABILITY HELP US SEE AND ANSWER?

Looking at variation in climate data via Tuva's Climate Domain (free online data)
Why We Care about Variation handout

WHEN SHOULD I USE AVERAGES VS RAW DATA?

Exploring Variation in Data handout
Ways to Look at Variability (based off of simulation activity in Penguins Foraging: Where and Why?)
Which Average to Use handout

HOW CAN WE TEACH ABOUT AND WITH VARIABILITY?

Visualizing Variability handout