Grade Cluster 5-6 Task # 5

The Grade Cluster & Task #: Grade Cluster 5-6, Task # 5

The Product/Performance: Visual Representation of Data

The Components: Database, Paint/Draw, Calculator

The Task:

Students will “publish” visual representations and interpretations of data they have collected and analyzed.

Students will collect information on a pertinent topic to class studies. Each student will create a database and enter information solicited from other students on their team.

They will use calculators to determine percentages and consider trends relative to the information collected.

After analyzing the results, each student will illustrate their interpretation of some aspect of the data using both a paint and draw application, comparing and contrasting each.

They will save their images in multiple formats for compatibility with the web and local applications. Students will publish their illustrations in a format agreed upon by their teacher.

Rationale:

Data can be presented in multiple formats. Visually illustrating data takes into account a variety of learning styles. It allows students to represent complex abstract concepts in concrete ways. Using a database to sort, search and compare information allows students to analyze this information in a very efficient manner.

IT1 - Basic Operations & Concepts

· Identifying and saving documents in multiple formats (e.g.,.doc, .jpg, .pdf, .rtf).

IT2 - Social, Ethical & Human Issues

Not assessed in this task

IT3 - Productivity Tools

· Creating, entering and manipulating a data base using ascending and descending sorting, and searching/finding/ querying, using single criterion.

· Creating original illustrations using paint and draw applications

· Comparing and contrasting the uses of a paint and a draw application

· Saving graphic images in multiple formats (e.g., .jpg, tif, gif)

· Using grade appropriate calculator and applications/functions (e.g., basic operations, fraction-decimal conversion, percentage).

IT4 - Communication

Not assessed in this task

IT5 - Research, Problem Solving & Decision Making

Not assessed in this task

Glossary:

Paint: A computer application that allows students to sketch directly onto a background palette. The use of pens or brushes and erasers are typical tools in a Paint program.

Draw: A computer application that allows students to create objects (rectangles, ovals, lines, etc.) which “float” over the background as opposed to being a part of the background itself (as in Paint).

File Formats: Files have different ways of being saved depending upon how they will be used. For example, a Microsoft Word document is typically saved as a Word file… it has an extension of .doc. The same document can also be saved as a web page with a .htm extension. This document would then be viewable on the web. The same document can also be saved as a text file (.txt) allowing other word processing programs to view it.

In the graphics world, file formats are also important and a variety are available. For example, if you have a picture that you want to use on the web, you would typically use a .gif or .jpg format. These file formats are accessible by almost any computer. Other graphic formats are also available such as .bmp, .tiff and .pic.

Resources:

File Formats

http://www.matisse.net/files/formats.html

http://www.stack.com/file/extension/