BP5_2010042_Web2.0Tool2CreateAGraph

Create A Graph
http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/

I chose to introduce “Create a Graph" from the “Kids' Zone: Learning with NCES” website. This website and Web 2.0 tool was created for kids. I have actually just started using this Web 2.0 tool and I wish I found it earlier. Last week I shared this tool with my colleagues at a faculty meeting. I was able to demonstrate the program and each teacher created a graph step by step. The graph below shows my students' scores. The great thing about this graph is the use of colors. You can clearly see that student scores either increased or stayed the same. The green vertical line is from their pre common formative assessment on writing a summary and the purple vertical line displays their score on the post common formative assessment on writing a summary. This was a great way for me to present my data at a Data Team meeting. Representatives from each grade level were able to hang up their graphs. We then could observe them and see which students made progress and which students did not. Having graphs really helped because it made our data analysis time quicker and smoother. Then we came up with teaching strategies to implement to help students who were not meeting benchmark.

This program is very easy to use. You can create five different kinds of graphs or charts. You can create a graph or chart using bar graphs, line graphs, area graphs, pie graphs, or XY graphs. There is even a "create a graph tutorial" to help you get started. Once you decide which type of graph you want to create you then choose the direction, shape, and style. Next, there are tabs on the right of the page that will take you through each step. Once you are finished with the design, you enter your data. You can label your graph and you can compare up to six groups.

Once all your data is entered you can add labels. This is my favorite part. "Create a Graph" calculates all of your percentages for you. I was very excited to put my calculator away. Once you finished all the steps you can then preview (then make changes if necessary), save, and print your graph. I downloaded all of my graphs into a PDF. You can save your graphs and email it to yourself in case you have to make any changes.

Students can also use "Create a Graph." This is a great way to bring more technology into your classroom.