Excel 1

In this activity, we worked with data provided by the National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) on the nationwide performance of 4th grade readers in 2011. The activity took a little longer than I thought it would because, in order to calculate descriptive statistics, I had to develop my own table and insert the appropriate formulas (my Mac doesn't support the Excel Data Analysis Tool and it was easier to develop my own table than to decipher the Solver tool). Anyway, my descriptive statistics table is embedded below or available for viewing on Screencast.com here. I've also uploaded both my State Statistics and my Chart files to Google Docs.



















A review of the data provided by the NCES indicates that West Virginia is not doing too well when compared to other states. 8 states and the District of Columbia scored below West Virginia and the other 41 states scored above West Virginia. In fact, West Virginia's score of 214 is six points below the average score of 220. Here's how the data looks on a scatter plot chart:
















The same chart is available on Screencast.com here. As a prospective teacher and a parent of two children in the West Virginia school system, these figures are cause for concern.

Relationship to Standards - the Excel 1 activity relates well to the following standards: 3(a) in that the ability to manipulate and plot data such as the information provided by the NCES demonstrates fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies; 3(c) in that the use of Excel and similar programs will allow educators to communicate relevant information and ideas - like below average reading scores - effectively to students, parents, and peers; and 3(d) in that the use of programs like Excel models the effective use of current and emerging digital tools in the evaluation of information.