Excel - Descriptive Statistics

All critical information is there...

Using an Excel spreadsheet, numerical data can be analyzed to recognize differences and patterns. By looking at the National Center for Education Statistics, and going to state comparisons, a search can be made by grade, subject, student group, year(s) and type of data display desired. In this particular instance, national 4th grade reading scores for 2011 were downloaded into my Excel program for review.  I realized the scores I would have been interested in were not an option: gifted scores by state and gender. (States vary wildly with regard to mandating gifted education and funding and although the NAGC will give individual information, I have not located an Excel types chart with all the information in one place. Maybe that's my special project!)

However, I did like how the title, reference sources and websites traveled with the download to act as a one-stop-shopping sheet--an appealing aspect.

By using the sorting and data analysis functions, the scores could be arranged in ascending order. I produced a scatter plot describing the placement of Virginia's scores compared to the other states and overseas schools on military bases (which counts as a state). The plotted scores reflect the ascending order. Virginia places #9 among the states, closely aligned with Vermont by .40 -- almost the same score difference as Maryland and New Hampshire (.38). There are 8 states with higher scores (DoDEA is one of them) and 43 states with lower scores. Virginia is 5.96 points above the average.

Overall, a striking point of interest is the fact that both outliers are on the east coast: high score (MA 236.7738666) and low score (DC 200.6279879), with DC also having the biggest difference between male and female scores.

The ability to sift through numbers and interpret them is a valuable professional and leadership skill. Being able to do it using technology is a way to speak to data in an efficient and effective way. ISTE NETS-T standard 5 would be addressed with this skill: evaluate and reflect on current research on a regular basis. By using digital tools, student learning can be guided as trends emerge.