The investigative cycle
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can solve a problem by implementing the steps of the investigative cycle on a data set.
Key learning points
- The PPDAC cycle is a framework that can be followed when asking and answering real-world problems using data.
- A correlation shows that there is a relationship between two or more variables.
- A correlation doesn't guarantee that one variable causes the other.
- Data that sits outside a trend is known as an outlier.
Keywords
PPDAC - a framework for us to follow when asking and answering real-world problems using data
Correlation - a correlation simply measures how two things move together
Outlier - a data point that significantly differs from the rest of the data in a data set
Common misconception
A positive correlation means one variable has an impact on another.
Just because there is a correlation, it doesn’t necessarily mean that one things causes another to increase.
Teacher tip
To help demonstrate the visualisation tool, a teacher demo video is provided as an additional resource for this lesson.
Equipment
Pupils will need access to a device that can access the website Codap for activities in this lesson https://oak.link/codap
File needed for this lesson
A3 Resource - Teacher support video 20.31 MB (MP4)
Download this file to use in the lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which change has made it easier to work with massive amounts of data?
Q2.What is the main reason to use a large data set when testing a prediction?
Q3.What is the term for a factor you use to judge or make a decision when analysing information?
Q4.Match each activity with its purpose:
to gather information
to look for patterns
to guess an outcome
to judge results
Q5.Which of these is NOT a use of data visualisation?
Q6.What is one advantage of using visualisation tools with data?
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Put these actions in order when investigating a real-world problem with data:
Q2.What is the term for a data point that is very different from the others in a data set?
Q3.When might you use the PPDAC cycle?
Q4.What is the term for a relationship where two variables move together, but one does not necessarily cause the other?
Q5.If two variables show a positive correlation, what does this mean?
Q6.If you see a correlation between two variables, what should you do before concluding that one causes the other?
To help you plan your 9 computing lesson on: The investigative cycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 9 computing lesson on: The investigative cycle, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 computing lessons from the Using data science unit, dive into the full secondary computing curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.