Lesson video

Hello, my name is Mrs. Antrobus.

Welcome to computing.

I'm so glad you could join the lesson today.

We're going to be learning all about how we use data for answers.

Welcome to today's lesson from the unit "Data Logging." Today's lesson is called "Data for Answers," and by the end of this lesson, you'll be able to identify the data needed to answer questions.

Throughout today's lesson, we'll be using these keywords.

Let's have a look at them together.

"Data logger." Data logger: a device that records data from the physical environment.

"Collection." Collection: the act of gathering something, e.

g.

, data.

Today's lesson will be broken down into three parts.

The first section, we'll look at designing a question to be answered using logged data.

The second section, we'll plan how to collect data using a data logger.

And in the third section, you'll use a data logger to collect data.

Let's get started.

Data is collected by scientists, governments, businesses, schools, and many other organisations.

They all use data in different ways.

Data is collected for different reasons, for example, to support decision-making or to solve problems. Data can also be collected to answer questions.

Not all questions can be answered with data loggers.

Good questions for data logging are the ones that involve change over time or measurable patterns.

The school data loggers can collect data about temperature, light, and sound.

Can you think of a question that the collected data could answer? Pause the video for a moment and just think about it.

Okay.

What did you come up with? Well, the question was to think about a question that the collected data could answer.

Well, you could ask a question such as, "What is the temperature in the classroom?" Or how light it is in the store cupboard.

Or how loud it is in the canteen at lunchtime.

What questions did you come up with? Were they similar? Let's check your understanding.

True or false? You could answer this question using a data logger: "What is our class's favourite pizza?" Is that true or false? Pause the video and think about the question.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said false, that would be correct.

And why is that? Well, to collect this data, you would need to ask each person their favourite type of pizza.

A data logger can't do this.

It can only record temperature, light, and sound data.

Well done if you got that correct.

Let's check your understanding again.

True or false? You could answer this question using a data logger: "When is the school library the quietest?" Is that true or false? Pause the video and think about it.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said true, you could use a data logger to answer the question, "When is the school library the quietest?" then you would be correct.

And why is that? Well, you could gather the data to answer this question using a sound sensor on a data logger.

You could place the data logger in the school library for a period of time, and it will gather that data for you, so therefore you'll be able to answer this question.

Well done if you got that answer correct.

Okay, let's move on to task A, where you're going to design a question to be answered using logged data.

The first part of task A, you're going to design the question to be answered using logged data.

You're going to use the words below to help you: "when," "how long," "how much," "what," "does," "does it take," "is," "temperature," "light," "sound," "change," "lowest," "highest." So remember, the data logger can log temperature, light, and sound, so using the words, design a question that could be answered using the logged data.

Pause the video, and we'll come back in a moment to look at some examples.

Okay, how did you get on? Did you come up with a good question? Let's have a look at some examples on the next slide.

Alex's question is, "When is the classroom the loudest?" Jun wants to know, "How long does it take ice to melt in the classroom?" And Izzy wants to know, "How cold does the classroom get at night?" Did you come up with a similar question? Does your question make sense? Well done for coming up with that question.

We are now going to move on to the second part of our lesson: "Plan how to collect data using a data logger." Let's get started.

Effective data collection requires planning.

For example, you'll need to think about these questions: What sensor will be used? How often will data be recorded? And where will the data logger be placed? There's lots to think about there.

Now, you're going to consider a number of questions to help you to plan how you will collect your data.

To answer a question effectively, it's important to first identify what kind of data is needed.

Is it temperature data, light data, or sound data? You next need to think about which sensor you will use to collect your data.

Does it need an additional sensor or need to be placed a particular way round? So you need to think about what it is you want the data logger to record.

Is it temperature, light, or sound? And that will help you to place your data logger in the most appropriate place.

Let's check your understanding.

I want to know at what time the classroom is at its brightest.

I should use A, the temperature sensor; B, the sound sensor; or C, the light sensor? Think about that question and pause the video.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said C, the light sensor, you would be correct, because the question was that I want to know what time the classroom is at its brightest.

So therefore, the light sensor will be needed.

Well done.

Let's move on.

Okay, here's another question to check your understanding.

I want to know where I should place the school bell.

I should use A, the temperature sensor; B, the sound sensor; or C, the light sensor? Pause the video and think about that for a moment.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said B, the sound sensor, you'd be correct, because we are looking to know where we should place the school bell.

The school bell makes a sound, so therefore the sound sensor is the most appropriate sensor to use.

Well done if you worked that out.

Here's another question.

I want to know when I should turn the heating on.

I should use A, the temperature sensor; B, the sound sensor; or C, the light sensor? Again, pause the video and think about that for a moment.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said A, the temperature sensor, that would be correct, because the question was, "I want to know when I should turn the heating on." So our temperature sensor is the most appropriate sensor.

Okay, so in order to plan how to collect data using a data logger, it's really important that we understand the answers to these questions.

Where does the data logger need to be placed? The quality of the readings will depend on where you have placed the data logger.

So think about what it is you are trying to record and where the most appropriate place is.

Also, how does the data logger need to be set up? Which sensors are you going to be using, making sure that they're not covered or that they are pointing in the right direction to pick up the best reading? When will data collection start, at what time of the day, and also, when will data collection stop? Again, how long is that data logger going to be recording the data? How long will data be collected for? Is it going to be five minutes, an hour, or even a 24-hour period? You need to decide this whilst you are planning how to collect data using your data logger.

Also, "What do you think the collected data will show you?" is another important question to think about when planning how to collect data using a data logger.

For example, if you wanted to know how loud it is in the playground, then you would expect your data to show that it would be loud during playtime and quieter during lesson times.

Okay, we're now going to move on to task B, and in this task, you're going to answer the questions below to help you to plan the data collection process.

So let's have a look at the questions.

A: Where does the data logger need to be placed? B: How does the data logger need to be set up? C: When will data collection start? D: When will data collection stop? E: How long will data be collected for? And F: What do you think the data collected will show? Okay, so you've got quite a lot to do there.

I want you to pause the video, and you're going to think about your data collection process and plan it out using these questions.

We'll come back in a moment to look at an example.

Okay, how did you get on with planning out the data collection process? Did you find it tricky? There were lots of questions to answer there.

Let's have a look at an example.

Izzy's question is: "How cold does the classroom get at night?" So, in order to answer that question, she needs to plan out her data logging process.

The first question she needed to answer was: Where does the data logger need to be placed? "I think I will place my data logger in the centre of the classroom.

I think that will give the fairest results.

If it's too near the door or windows, the draughts might make a difference." Question B: How does the data logger need to be set up? Izzy said, "I want to start my experiment in the afternoon.

The children won't have gone home, so I will need to create an area that is clear, where people can see the data logger.

I don't want them to trip over or move it.

I'll try to do it on a day we have PE, so there will be less movement in the classroom." Okay, Izzy's thought about that in quite a lot of detail.

Have you done the same for yours? When will data collection start? Well, Izzy said, "I want to start the data logger at 2:30 p.

m.

so it gives me a good amount of data to look at through the afternoon, through the night, and into the next day." When will data collection stop? Izzy said, "I will leave the data logger logging data until we get into school the next day.

I'll leave some time for us to hang our coats and do the register, and then stop it at 9:30 a.

m.

when all of our morning jobs are done." Izzy has thought about this in great detail.

Have you done the same? How long will data be collected for? "The data logger will be collecting data from 2:30 p.

m.

on day one to 9:30 a.

m.

on day two.

That means data will be collected for over 19 hours." What do you think the data collected will show? Well, Izzy has said, "I think that the classroom would be coldest at midnight, and it would be much colder than the daytime." What do you think the data you collected will show? Well done for having a go at that task and planning out how you're going to collect data using your data logger.

You've done really well in this lesson so far.

We are now on the third part of our lesson.

You're going to use a data logger to collect data.

Let's get started.

So now it is testing time, and this is a really important part of the lesson.

You now need to test the key parts of your plan to ensure that it works.

Place the data logger in your chosen location and set it up in the way that you have planned.

You can see here it's really important to make sure that the data logger is in a position where it's not going to get knocked or disrupted in any way.

And also, you wouldn't want someone to stand on it accidentally and break it, so you could use a desk to cover the data logger or PE cones or something that makes it clear to anybody who comes into the room that the data logger is there, and it keeps it safe.

You're next going to check your data logger is switched on and that nothing is in the way of the sensors.

If the light or sound sensor is covered, then it won't be able to take accurate readings, and your data logger and your data experiment will be worthless.

You're going to gather data for a minute or two and check that the data that you expected is collected.

You might need to check with someone else if the data doesn't look right or start the data logger again.

Once you've completed your checks and you're happy that everything is working as it should, you can start to collect your data.

Let's check your understanding before we move on.

Which of these things should you do before you start your experiment? A, set your data logger up; B, download the data onto your computer; C, check the data logger is switched on and nothing is blocking the sensors; or D, gather some data and check that it is in the correct format? Pause the video and think about that really important question.

How did you get on? Well, if you said A, C, and D, you would be correct.

You need to set up your data logger.

You need to check the data logger is switched on and nothing is blocking the sensors.

And you need to gather some data and check it to make sure it's in the correct format.

Okay, here's another question.

True or false? If you gather data for a minute or two to check that the data collected looks okay, your experiment will be successful.

Pause the video and just think about that for a moment.

Okay, how did you get on? Well, if you said false, you'd be correct.

But why is that? Well, there might be other factors that affect your experiment which are out of your control.

For example, someone could unplug your data logger, the batteries might run out, or the data may be corrupt due to an issue with the hardware or software.

Did you get that question correct? If you did, well done.

Okay, this is the exciting part.

You'll need to collect your data before starting the next lesson, and this is what you'll be doing for task C.

You're going to use your plan to set up your data logger.

Remember things like position, making sure none of the sensors are covered, and thinking about timings.

You're then going to collect your data.

And then, finally, you're going to download your results.

Good luck with your data logging experiments.

So that brings us to the end of today's lesson.

You've done a fantastic job, so well done.

Let's summarise what we've learned.

To answer a question effectively, it's important to first identify what kind of data you need.

Good questions for data logging are ones that involve change over time or measurable patterns.

Effective data collection requires planning.

For example, what sensor will be used, how often will data be recorded, and where will the data logger be placed? I hope you've enjoyed today's lesson, and I look forward to seeing you next time.