Data Collection
Collecting high-quality data from an experiment is a key part of scientific inquiry. It’s what allows us to test our hypotheses about whether last night’s sleep was the best in years, for example.
The type of data collected can be quantitative or qualitative. Quantitative data is numerical and has a defined range; qualitative data is descriptive and open-ended.
Analysing Data
The use of technology in science experiments allows students to collect data more efficiently and accurately. It also helps them to analyse their data and communicate the results of their experiments.
Software programs can help students to create tables and graphs that allow them to view their data in different ways. This can help them find patterns and trends that may be difficult to notice when looking at the raw data.
Interpreting Data
When students collect and analyse data from their experiments, they must be able to make sense of the information. Technology can help with this by allowing them to compare, represent and create tables and graphs. It can also provide a variety of statistical analyses, which are necessary to understand the meaning of experimental results.
Communicating Results
When students are done with an experiment, technology tools can help them communicate their results to a wider audience. This can happen through a website, blog, or video. Alternatively, students can write a report to share their results with peers or an audience outside the classroom.
