Online Exploration: Galaxy Hunter


See detailed teacher pages index below

The Online Exploration Galaxy Hunter includes four activities:
“Bias,” “Sample Size,” HDF-N vs. HDF-S,”and “The Last Stop.”

“Bias” Education Standards
Grade level: 10-12 —Target grade: 11
Learning Outcomes McREL Standards and Benchmarks ITEA Standards for Technological Literacy

In “Bias” students will be able to analyze and identify sampling methods that reduce bias.

 Mathematics Standard 6.
Level IV (Grades 9-12) Benchmark 8:
Understands how concepts of representativeness, randomness, and bias in sampling can affect experimental outcomes and statistical interpretations.		 Standard 12:
Students will develop the abilities to use and maintain technological products and systems.
Grades 9-12 Benchmark P:
Use computers and calculators to access, retrieve, organize, process, maintain, interpret, and evaluate data and information in order to communicate.

“Sample Size” Education Standards
Grade level: 10-12 —Target grade: 11
Learning Outcomes NCTM Principles and Standards 2000 McREL Standards and Benchmarks

In “Sample Size” students will be able to:

  • Select a simple random sample to draw conclusions from the data.
  • Use sample variability to determine optimal sample size.

Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Grades 9-12.
Formulate questions that can be addressed with data and collect, organize, and display relevant data to answer them.

  • Know the characteristics of well-designed studies, including the role of randomization in surveys and experiments.

Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.

  • Use simulations to explore the variability of sample statistics from a known population and to construct sampling distributions.
 Mathematics Standard 6.
Level IV (Grades 9-12)
Benchmark 7:
Understands sampling distributions, the central limit theorem, and confidence intervals.
Benchmark 8:
Understands how concepts of representativeness, randomness, and bias in sampling can affect experimental outcomes and statistical interpretations.

“HDF-N vs. HDF-S” Education Standards
Grade level: 10-12 —Target grade: 11
Learning Outcomes National Science Education Standards Project 2061 Standards NCTM Principles and Standards 2000 McREL Standards and Benchmarks

In “HDF-N vs. HDF-S” students will be able to:

  • Compare sample data with the population parameter to determine accuracy of sampling techniques.
  • Use statistical data to make conjectures about the universe.
 Content Standard A: Understandings About Scientific Inquiry.
Mathematics is essential in scientific inquiry. Mathematical tools and models guide and improve the posing of questions, gathering data, constructing explanations and communicating results.

2. The Nature of Mathematics:
B. Mathematics, Science, and Technology.
By the end of the 12th grade, students should know that:

  • Mathematics provides a precise language for science and technology-to describe objects and events, to characterize relationships between variables, and to argue logically.

Data Analysis and Probability Standard
Grades 9-12.
Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.

  • Understand how sample statistics reflect the values of population parameters and use sampling distributions as the basis for informal inference.
 Mathematics Standard 6.
Level IV (Grades 9-12)
Benchmark 9:
Understands that making an inference about a population from a sample always involves uncertainty and the role of statistics is to estimate the size of that uncertainty.

“The Last Stop” Education Standards
Grade level: 10-12 —Target grade: 11
Learning Outcomes NCTM Principles and Standards 2000 McREL Standards and Benchmarks

In “The Last Stop” students make a prediction based on data collection and analysis.

Data Analysis and Probability Standard Grades 9-12.
Develop and evaluate inferences and predictions that are based on data.

  • Understand how sample statistics reflect the values of population parameters and use sampling distributions as the basis for informal inference.
 Mathematics Standard 6.
Level IV (Grades 9-12)
Benchmark 9:
Understands that making an inference about a population from a sample always involves uncertainty and the role of statistics is to estimate the size of that uncertainty.

Additional information for using this Online Exploration

Prerequisites
Students should:

  • Be able to read grade-level appropriate material.
  • Be able to construct and interpret frequency tables.
  • Have general knowledge of samples.
  • Be able to define range, mean, and median.
  • Have general knowledge of min/max plots.

Common misconceptions: Math
Students may think that:

  • Any method of choosing data will give results representative of a population.
  • Any method of sampling will produce unbiased samples, such as closing eyes and picking a sample by pointing a finger.

Common misconceptions: Science
Students:

  • May think that galaxies are static and do not change with time.
  • May not comprehend the number of galaxies contained in the universe or the vastness of space.

Teacher Pages Index
| Description/Lesson Overview | How to prepare for an "Online exploration" | Subject | Concepts | Prerequisites | Process Skills Acquired | Target Audience/Grade Levels | Preparation Time | Execution Time | Field Tested | Last Update |
| Math Background | Science Background | Words from the Scientist | References |
| Goal/Purpose | Desired Learning Outcomes | Prerequisites | New Vocabulary | General Misconceptions | Preparation Time | Execution Time | Physical Layout of the Room | Materials | Procedure/Directions | Evaluation/Assessment | Follow-up Activities/Extensions | One-Computer Classrooms | Classrooms without Computers | Home Schooler |
Learning objectives matched with relevant education standards.
| Downloadable Documents | Other Resources Related to the Lesson | Other Resources Available at the Institute | Other Resources Available Outside the Institute |
Information about the authors.
This link takes you back to the lesson's top page.

 

Send your comments about this page to: amazing-space@stsci.edu