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Practical Data Applications Course Resources/Index

"There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics."

-Benjamin Disreali

Introduction:

Course Instructors: Joyce Stoffer, Math and David Costello, Social Studies

Course Scope and Goals: The scope of this course offers an integrated curriculum of both math and social studies; thus it is inter-disciplinary by design.

The overall goal is to offer students an opportunity to develop their own learning strategies and problem solving skills as they apply to real world social/historical issues.

Among the objectives we plan is for students to study, analyze and apply real world quantitative data for the basis of making social policy decisions. Students will be asked to analyze,interpret data, and provide visual,verbal,and oral interpretations of these types of data. Many fundamental statistical,mathematical and surveying methods will be presented as tools for analysis.

Some Recent Course topics include-in no particular order:

Noted pscyhologist and researcher - Carl Jung once said that: "You can prove anything with statistics," go to the link below and start reading the 4 part debate between two experts about guns, crime and how both sides use numbers --the same ones-- to prove their point.

Data distortion links: Gun Control, Crime and Numbers

Wired Nation

IPod Nation

iSolation Nation

Modeling 21st Century Ohio Economy

Ohio-Opoly Project *** See group projects New! 2008....

Immigration: Open or Close the Door?

Public Policy Article
Obesity Rubric
Obesity Introduction
Obesity Survey
Example [Powerpoint]
Portion Distortion: Comparing the calories and size

Data Driven Decision Making

Picking a College -- Building a Decision Matrix
Building a DecisionMatrix_- All Products

Our First Minority President

Quarterly Reports: Fall 2006

Our First Minority President [Introduction]
--Article Analysis Sheet
--Assessment
--Company Data/Profile

Cartograms: A new Perspective on the USA Map

Demographics and the TV Ratings Game

Census Data Section

Public Health Unit

Introduction Essay
Public Health Issues
Rubric
Fact Sheets on Public Health Issues [from AOA]
Medical Facts on Health [From Medline Plus]

"Big Box Stores: Opportunity or Obstacle for Community Development?

National Review Article

Independent Study Links

The index below will offer you links to materials, resources, web sites, and our gradebook as we develop the course. Check it out periodically for changes, updates and corrections.

Class of Fall 2005 Picture

Course Materials