tinkerplots

TinkerplotsTinkerplots

Dr. Carryn BellomoDr. Carryn Bellomo

UNLV Department of Mathematical SciencesUNLV Department of Mathematical [email protected]

Outline of SeminarOutline of Seminar

Overview of TinkerplotsOverview of Tinkerplots HandoutsHandouts Classroom ActivitiesClassroom Activities ConclusionConclusion

Overview of TinkerplotsOverview of Tinkerplots

Helps you see trends and patterns in dataHelps you see trends and patterns in dataHelps you make graphs and reports to Helps you make graphs and reports to

present findingspresent findingsThere are sample data sets in:There are sample data sets in:

– healthhealth– science and naturescience and nature– social studiessocial studies– sportssports

Overview of TinkerplotsOverview of Tinkerplots

The program has several movies, located The program has several movies, located in the in the HelpHelp folder, such as: folder, such as:– Adding Data (entering your own data set)Adding Data (entering your own data set)– Comparing Groups (Occupational Data)Comparing Groups (Occupational Data)– Exploring Relationships (Ozone Levels)Exploring Relationships (Ozone Levels)– Making Common Graphs (Student Data)Making Common Graphs (Student Data)– Tinkerplot Basics (Cat Data)Tinkerplot Basics (Cat Data)

Let’s view the Let’s view the Tinker Plots BasicsTinker Plots Basics Movie! Movie!

HandoutsHandouts

The The Tinkerplot Quick reference cardTinkerplot Quick reference card will will help you troubleshoot and will serve as a help you troubleshoot and will serve as a quick reference guidequick reference guide

The activity handouts (beginning with the The activity handouts (beginning with the Men’s 100m Dash) can be used as lesson Men’s 100m Dash) can be used as lesson plans in the classroom. This is taken from plans in the classroom. This is taken from Exploring Data.pdfExploring Data.pdf in the in the Help FolderHelp Folder..

Excel “How To” handoutExcel “How To” handout

Classroom ActivitiesClassroom Activities

1.1. Old FaithfulOld Faithful

2.2. DinosaursDinosaurs

3.3. Men’s 100-Meter Dash at the OlympicsMen’s 100-Meter Dash at the Olympics

4.4. Men and Women at the OlympicsMen and Women at the Olympics

5.5. Body MeasurementsBody Measurements

6.6. Australian StudentsAustralian Students

7.7. The Yo-Yo MysteryThe Yo-Yo Mystery

Activity – Old FaithfulActivity – Old Faithful

Here we will explore 222 eruptions of Old Here we will explore 222 eruptions of Old Faithful, a geyser in Yellowstone National Faithful, a geyser in Yellowstone National Park, WY, in August 1978 and 1979Park, WY, in August 1978 and 1979

The data cards given have information onThe data cards given have information on– Order number of observationOrder number of observation– Year of observationYear of observation– Day of month in AugustDay of month in August– Duration of eruption in minutesDuration of eruption in minutes– Minutes to next eruption in minutesMinutes to next eruption in minutes


Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:A sign posted at the Old Faithful visitor's A sign posted at the Old Faithful visitor's

center lets visitors know about how many center lets visitors know about how many minutes it will be to the next eruption.minutes it will be to the next eruption.

To make these predictions, the park uses To make these predictions, the park uses a formula that “proves to be accurate, plus a formula that “proves to be accurate, plus or minus 10 minutes, 90% of the time.”or minus 10 minutes, 90% of the time.”


Open “Old Faithful.tp”Open “Old Faithful.tp”Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Science and NatureScience and Nature

How should we organize the data to How should we organize the data to predict the time to next eruption?predict the time to next eruption?


Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:There are two cases that do not have data There are two cases that do not have data

on “how long to the next eruption time”. on “how long to the next eruption time”. Case 106 and 222.Case 106 and 222.

Let’s see if we can use our analysis to Let’s see if we can use our analysis to determine the time to the next eruptiondetermine the time to the next eruption

Activity – DinosaursActivity – Dinosaurs

Here we will explore characteristics of dinosaursHere we will explore characteristics of dinosaurs The data cards given have information onThe data cards given have information on

– Name of dinosaurName of dinosaur– Food preferenceFood preference– Sub-classificationSub-classification– Type of hip, and teethType of hip, and teeth– Average adult length, height, and weightAverage adult length, height, and weight– Number of limbs used for walkingNumber of limbs used for walking– Continent lived onContinent lived on– Geological period lived in, and no. of years agoGeological period lived in, and no. of years ago

Activity Activity –– Dinosaurs Dinosaurs

Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Given the data we have, what kinds of Given the data we have, what kinds of

questions can we answer about questions can we answer about dinosaurs?dinosaurs?

Do we expect any relationships between Do we expect any relationships between attributes?attributes?– Weight vs. heightWeight vs. height– Hip type vs. diet…Hip type vs. diet…


Open “Dinosaurs.tp”Open “Dinosaurs.tp”Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Science and NatureScience and Nature

How should we organize the data to How should we organize the data to answer our questions?answer our questions?


Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:Over the years of their existence, did Over the years of their existence, did

dinosaurs tend to get bigger, smaller, or dinosaurs tend to get bigger, smaller, or stay the same size?stay the same size?

Did dinosaurs who ate meat (carnivores) Did dinosaurs who ate meat (carnivores) tend to be larger or smaller than those tend to be larger or smaller than those who ate plants (herbivores)? If so, about who ate plants (herbivores)? If so, about how different in size were these two how different in size were these two types?types?

Activity – Men’s 100m DashActivity – Men’s 100m Dash

Here we will explore the winning times for Here we will explore the winning times for the men’s 100 meter dash from all the the men’s 100 meter dash from all the Olympic games from 1896 to 2000Olympic games from 1896 to 2000

The data cards given have much more The data cards given have much more information than we actually need… all we information than we actually need… all we are looking for here is the year and the are looking for here is the year and the men’s gold winning time for the 100m men’s gold winning time for the 100m dashdash

Pages 32-34 of Activity BookPages 32-34 of Activity Book


Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:How many seconds do you think it would How many seconds do you think it would

take the fastest man take the fastest man todaytoday to run 100m to run 100m (about a football field)?(about a football field)?

Do you think this time is different today Do you think this time is different today than previous years? Why or why not?than previous years? Why or why not?


Open “Olympics 100 Meter.tp”Open “Olympics 100 Meter.tp” Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Exploring Data StartersExploring Data Starters

How should we configure our plot to How should we configure our plot to answer our questions?answer our questions?


Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:When was there the greatest change in When was there the greatest change in

running times? Why do you think this is running times? Why do you think this is so?so?

What has happened to the running times What has happened to the running times over the years? How could you account over the years? How could you account for this?for this?

Can you project the times for future years?Can you project the times for future years?


Side Note – Using Excel to Add Trendlines:Side Note – Using Excel to Add Trendlines:You can add Linear and exponential You can add Linear and exponential

function trendlines in MS Excelfunction trendlines in MS ExcelThis adds formality to the questions we This adds formality to the questions we

asked previouslyasked previously

Using Excel – Men’s 100m DashUsing Excel – Men’s 100m Dash

Copy the data and paste it into ExcelCopy the data and paste it into ExcelAdd a chart (scatterplot)Add a chart (scatterplot)Use excel to find the linear approximation Use excel to find the linear approximation

(least squares line)(least squares line)Use the equation to graph your own line, Use the equation to graph your own line,

and use it to predict missing or future and use it to predict missing or future valuesvalues

““How To” specifics are on your excel handoutHow To” specifics are on your excel handout

Activity – Men vs. WomenActivity – Men vs. Women

Here we will be comparing the winning Here we will be comparing the winning times/distances of men and women in the times/distances of men and women in the Olympics over the yearsOlympics over the years

The data cards given have the gold medal The data cards given have the gold medal times for men and women for each year intimes for men and women for each year in– 100m100m– 200m200m– High jump andHigh jump and– Long jumpLong jump



Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Do you think there will be a difference in Do you think there will be a difference in

the 100m dash between men and women? the 100m dash between men and women? If so, why, and by how much? If so, why, and by how much?

If there is a difference between gold medal If there is a difference between gold medal times/distances, is it consistent throughout times/distances, is it consistent throughout the years? Or perhaps is the gap getting the years? Or perhaps is the gap getting smaller (or larger)?smaller (or larger)?


Open “Olympics Men Women.tp”Open “Olympics Men Women.tp” Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Exploring Data StartersExploring Data Starters

How should we configure the data to get How should we configure the data to get the best answers to our questions?the best answers to our questions?


Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:With the 100m dash, does one gender out With the 100m dash, does one gender out

perform another? If yes, by how much, perform another? If yes, by how much, and is this consistent through the years? 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 Let’s look at an Excel file with this

informationinformation

Activity – Body MeasurementsActivity – Body Measurements

Here we will explore characteristics of Body Here we will explore characteristics of Body measurements of adults (247 men and 260 measurements of adults (247 men and 260 women) who were exercising several hours a women) who were exercising several hours a weekweek

The data cards given have information on:The data cards given have information on:– Gender, age, weight, heightGender, age, weight, height– Pelvic diameter in centimetersPelvic diameter in centimeters– Chest depth and diameter in centimetersChest depth and diameter in centimeters– Elbow, wrist, knee and ankle diameter in centimetersElbow, wrist, knee and ankle diameter in centimeters– Shoulder, chest, waist, abdominal, hip, thigh, bicep, forearm, Shoulder, chest, waist, abdominal, hip, thigh, bicep, forearm,

knee, calf, ankle and wrist girth in centimetersknee, calf, ankle and wrist girth in centimeters



questions can we answer about these questions can we answer about these measurements?measurements?

Do we expect any relationships between Do we expect any relationships between attributes?attributes?


Open “Body Measurements.tp”Open “Body Measurements.tp” Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos HealthHealth



Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:For which measurement are males and For which measurement are males and

females most different?females most different?For which measurement are they most For which measurement are they most

alike? Explain.alike? Explain.

Activity – Australian StudentsActivity – Australian Students

Here we will explore characteristics of 159 Here we will explore characteristics of 159 students in south Australia in grades 8-12students 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 levelGender, height in cm, birthday, grade level– Type of school, public/privateType of school, public/private– Travel time to schoolTravel time to school– Number of people in householdNumber of people in household– Type of driver's license, whether they have their own car Type of driver's license, whether they have their own car – Whether they have their own mobile phone Whether they have their own mobile phone – Whether they have access to home computer, and InternetWhether they have access to home computer, and Internet– Weekday hours spent watching TV before schoolWeekday hours spent watching TV before school



questions can we answer about these questions can we answer about these students?students?

Do we expect any relationships between Do we expect any relationships between attributes?attributes?


Open “Australian Students.tp”Open “Australian Students.tp” Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Social StudiesSocial Studies



Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data: Is there evidence in these data of a gender Is there evidence in these data of a gender

difference in pay? If so, about how big is difference in pay? If so, about how big is the difference?the difference?

What differences do you notice, if any, What differences do you notice, if any, between public school students and between public school students and private school students?private school students?

Activity – The YoYo MysteryActivity – The YoYo Mystery

Here we will be looking at computer driven Here we will be looking at computer driven data from a yo-yo factory to determine data from a yo-yo factory to determine when a break in occurredwhen a break in occurred

The data cards given haveThe data cards given have– Elapsed timeElapsed time– HourHour– PeriodPeriod– Number_YoYosNumber_YoYos– GroupGroup



Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:Let’s Think About This Before We Begin:The manager is the prime suspect; he is The manager is the prime suspect; he is

the last to leave and first to arrive. When the last to leave and first to arrive. When are his whereabouts unaccounted for?are his whereabouts unaccounted for?


Open “Yo Yo Mystery.tp”Open “Yo Yo Mystery.tp” Located in:Located in: Data and DemosData and Demos Exploring Data StartersExploring Data Starters

How should we configure the data to How should we configure the data to determine when the break-in occurred?determine when the break-in occurred?


Investigate the Data:Investigate the Data:About what time could the break in have About what time could the break in have

taken place?taken place?With this information, could the suspect With this information, could the suspect

have committed the break-in?have committed the break-in?

ConclusionConclusion

ConclusionConclusion

This presentation and handouts can be This presentation and handouts can be found at:found at: http://www.unlv.edu/faculty/bellomohttp://www.unlv.edu/faculty/bellomo

tinkerplots

Documents

activity old faithfulopen

sample data sets

eruption time

activity mens

eruptions of old faithful

old faithful visitors

activity dinosaursinvestigate

augustduration of eruption