AP CSP Day 10 - Data Visualization
AP CSP Day 10 - Data Visualization
Course Information
- Course: AP Computer Science Principles
- Unit: Big Idea 3 - Data & Information (DAT)
- Lesson: Day 10 (50 minutes)
- Learning Objective: DAT-1.F - Visualize data using programs
Learning Objectives
Primary Goals
Students will be able to:
- Explain data visualization techniques
- Identify common visualization tools
- Apply visualization methods to datasets
- Analyze the impact of visualization on decision-making
AP Exam Alignment
- Big Idea 3: Data & Information (27-36% of AP Exam)
- Essential Knowledge: DAT-1.F.1, DAT-1.F.2, DAT-1.F.3
- Computational Thinking Practice: 3.C - Visualize data using programs
Lesson Structure (50 minutes)
Opening Hook (10 minutes)
10.1 Welcome & Lesson Preview (5 minutes)
Teacher Activities:
- Welcome students to Day 10
- Review previous lesson's key concepts
- Introduce today's focus on data visualization
Student Activities:
- Review previous lesson's materials
- Think about: "How can we visualize data?"
10.2 Quick Visualization Challenge (5 minutes)
Activity: "Create a Simple Chart"
Instructions:
- Groups of 4-6 students
- Create a chart from a given dataset
- Discuss the process
Purpose: Activate thinking about data visualization
Core Content Instruction (20 minutes)
11.1 What is Data Visualization? (10 minutes)
Definition (DAT-1.F.1):
Data visualization involves presenting data in graphical formats to make insights more understandable.
Key Concepts:
- **Charts: Bar, line, pie charts
- **Graphs: Scatter plots, histograms
- **Dashboards: Interactive visualizations
Case Study: The visualization of sales data in an e-commerce app
- Visualization process: Creating bar charts and dashboards
- Outcome: Insights into sales trends
11.2 Common Visualization Tools (5 minutes)
Tools:
- **Matplotlib: Python library for plotting
- **Tableau: Advanced data visualization software
- **Excel: Spreadsheet-based visualization
Examples:
- E-commerce app: Visualizing sales data using bar charts
- Health tracking app: Visualizing fitness metrics using line graphs
11.3 Importance of Data Visualization (5 minutes)
Why is it important?:
- Insights: Discovering patterns in data
- Communication: Sharing findings effectively
- Decision-making: Informed choices based on visualized data
Discussion Questions:
- How do bar charts differ from line graphs?
- What are the benefits of interactive dashboards?
- Why is data visualization important for effective communication?
Hands-On Activity (15 minutes)
12.1 Group Project: Data Visualization Practice (15 minutes)
Activity: "Visualize a Dataset"
Instructions:
- Groups of 3-4 students
- Visualize datasets using charts and graphs
- Discuss the process and its applications
- Present findings
Materials:
- **List of datasets to visualize
- **Visualization worksheet
- **Access to coding environment
Learning Goals:
- **Understand data visualization
- **Identify visualization tools
- **Apply visualization methods
- **Present ideas effectively
Assessment:
- **Group participation
- **Visualization accuracy
- **Use of visualization tools
- **Presentation clarity
Closure & Preview (5 minutes)
13.1 Key Concepts Review (2 minutes)
Today's Learning Highlights:
- ✅ Understanding data visualization
- ✅ Identifying visualization tools
- ✅ Applying visualization methods
- ✅ Analyzing visualization impact
AP Exam Connection:
- These concepts will appear in AP exam multiple choice questions
- Understanding data visualization is crucial for the Explore Performance Task
13.2 Next Class Preview (3 minutes)
Day 11 Topic: "Metadata"
- Learning Objective: DAT-1.G - Explain metadata and its uses
- Activity: Practicing metadata identification techniques
- Homework: Think about a recent program you used. What data visualization techniques did it use? What could be improved?