Inspiredata-+Working+With+Graphs

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= = = = = = =Its just another tool that I will never use....How Inspiring is Inspiredata?=

One problem with the educational system today is that students do not know how to analyze data. They can record data and enter it into a plot, but then cannot evaluate what that data means. Inspiredata presents a bridge for these students by organizing their data into personalized graphs, charts, or visual models that will allow students to visually analyze their results.

Excel vs. Inspiredata
Inspiredata is a data collection and analysis tool much like Excel. Much like any data collection and analysis tool, one will only want to use them if needed. And rather then students taking hours coloring in bar graphs or using rulers to connect the dots, Inspiredata allows students to enter data and instantly plot the results. All the students have to do is consider which graph would best present their data, and personalize their results based on what they want analyzed. Why Inspiredata? Excel is a Microsoft feature included in the software packets provided with many computer purchases. Excel graphs data in various formats, and allows you to change colors, variables, etc. just like Inspiredata. Inspiredata is more student friendly, and automatically graphs the results without the students having to go through the procedural steps that Excel requires. The graphing system of Inspiredata is animated, and shows the changes you make as you change each variable.

=Basics Before You Begin Graphing= To see how to access the Inspiredata database to chose a data template, or to look at an overview of Inspiredata, go to the Inspiredata Overview page.

Switching to Plot View
= = After you have either manually entered in data, or have used one of Inspiredata's Database Templates, then you can begin using the graphing tool. To switch from Table View to Plot View, click the left-most icon in the upper left hand corner (circled in red on the screenshot).



Understanding the Tool Bar
When you first click Plot View, the screen will not make sense. You will need to choose the graphing format to organize the scattered plots that will be shown on your screen. To start, you need to know the main tools key to Inspiredata plot view toolbar, found at the bottom of the window.

a. //Show the previous plot// If you have multiple tables in the table view, then this button will allow you to move to the previous table's plot view. b. //Show the next plot// If you have multiple tables in the table view, then this button will allow you to move to the next table's plot view. c. //Clear plot settings// This button allows you to remove all of the variables and manipulations you have made to the graph, without deleting your table view data. Consider it the "new" button for plot view. d. //Switch to a Venn Plot// This button allows you to switch your data to a Venn diagram graph. This graph is best used for comparing and contrasting two or three entries on one topic. (math related: you have only one "y" variable, but several "x" variables) e. //Switch to a Stack Plot// This button allows you to switch your data to a Stack Plot graph. This is similar to a bar graph. This is ideal when you have one variable, (ex. looking at one person's data). Note: the stack plot will graph the modes (how many times a variable is the same) of your variable. f. //Switch to an Axis Plot// This button allows you to switch your data to a Axis Plot graph. This is similar to a line graph. This is ideal when you have three variables, where one remains constant (ex. a name) g. //Switch to a Pie Plot// This button allows you to switch your data to a Pie Plot graph. This is a pie chart. This is ideal when you have one variable, and one constant. (ex. characteristics of a class (constant) and data (numerical entry). h. //Label all items with values to a field// Clicking the label button allows you to label the data points. However, if you notice the down arrow icon to the right of the label button, it will allow you to change the label with more specifications. By clicking the arrow it will give you options as to what you want the data points to be (it will give the options that were the labels of the plot view). i. //Change size of icons and axis labels// This button allows you to enlarge the size of your icons and axis labels. There are three size options; keep clicking the icon to enlarge or shrink the sizes. j. //Color by field// This button allows you to organize your data through color. When you click this icon, it will give you a list of your table view variables. Choose one to organize the color formatting and it will change the green icons to a spectrum color pallet. To change the colors, click the legend of the color spectrum on the top of the graph and select a different color spectrum. k. //Label items with a box// This button allows you to highlight a specific data plot point with an outline box. To click this button you need to have selected the data point you wish to highlight. l. //Select icon size// This button allows you to adjust the size of the data plot points (or bars for a Stack Plot). m. //Compute summary data// This button works with the Operation button, and will show or hide whatever specification you chose as your Operations. n. //Operation button// This button gives you a list of options that will calculate either the Count, % of count, % of count in row, % of count in column, Total, % of total, % of total in row, % of total in column, Mean, Median, Smallest, and Largest. By selecting one of these options, the calculated results will appear on the graph, usually above your data plot points.

Graphing 101: How to Graph on Inspiredata
1) Decide what information you want to graph. You may have lots of data (which equals lots of variables), but you can't realistically graph it all on the same graph. RECOMMENDATION: Chose one constant (names-things that are not numerical data), and one to two variables (numerical data)

2) Decide which Plot you want to use. (See recommendations under (2) Understanding the Tool Bar (d)-(g)) If you do not know which will work best for your data, chose one to start, and switch to another as you work on organizing your data to explore which fits your data best. Click on the icon of your intended graph.

3) To title your graph**, go to "Plot" on the top toolbar -> "Plot Title..." found at the bottom of the options. Enter a title that best fits what your graph will represent.

Stack Plots
To Graph Using a Stack Plot, first click the Stack Plot icon to switch to this graph. (See Understanding the Toolbar)

1) Left click on the icon "X-Variable" and choose one of the variables given (from 3a) that you want to analyze.



2) Next you want to label your data points to understand what each represents. To color label the plot points, click the "Color by Field" (j) and select what variable you want it to color organize.




 * To change the automatic color settings, click the key for the color plots, and chose which color format you wish.



3) Other options for labeling your data is to label each point. To do this, click the "Label all items with values to a field" icon (h). To chose the label, click the down arrow next to this icon for more options.

4) To evaluate your data points, click the "Operation" button on the far right of the toolbar. Explore the options to help see what you want to evaluate (I would recommend the Count, % Count, or Total) The results should show above your data points on your Stack Plot



5) To change the appearance of your Stack Plot, click either of the buttons on the far left above the toolbar, shown in the screen shot. The button on the far left changes the alignment of the Stack Plot with the data points, the button to the right changes the data points to single bars.

6) Directly below your graph are the words "Range" "Step" and "Options".



Range: This shows the range of values the shown on the x-axis. Another option is to have it label the x-axis by "Categories", which plots each possible x value, rather than giving you a minimum and maximum value like "Range" does. To switch "Range" to "Categories", click on the word "Range" and select "Categories"

Step: "Step" allows you to choose the intervals between each of your x values on the x axis. To change the interval, click on the "?" or the numerical value to the right of the word "Step". Enter the value of your desired interval.

Options: By clicking on the word "Options", you can show or change the Lower Bounds, Upper Bounds, Mean, and Median of your data for the x-variable.By selecting Show Mean or Show Median, the graph will highlight each range in red and label the mean and median values of that range of data. (see screen shot below). Upper Bounds and Lower Bounds adjusts the range of the x variable to fit the graph starting from the minimum value on your axis (Lower) or from the maximum value (Upper).



Axis Plots
To Graph Using an Axis Plot, first click the Axis Plot icon to switch to this graph. (See Understanding the Toolbar)



1) Left click on the icon "X-Variable" and choose one of the variables given (from 3a) that you want to analyze.Similarly, click on the icon "Y-Variable" and choose the variable you want to compare the x-variable to.

2) You can change the color of your graph and the labels similar to the Stack Plot steps. (See 4a Steps 2-3

3) On both the x and y axis, there is an option "Continuous" on the edges of both axis. By clicking the word, it will give you three options: Categories, Continuous, and Range.



The graph is automatically set to Continuous, which sets the graph based on the values, making it a line graph.

If you select Continuous, then next to the Continuous icon, one more icon will appear, "Options". Clicking on this icon will show Show Mean and Show Median. Clicking either will show draw a on that axis of your graph (see screen shot on left) that marks the median or mean of your data.



Range plots the data based on the range of the results of either the x or y variable (depending on whether you chose to Range for either x or y).

If you select Range, then next to the Range icon, two more icons will appear, "Step" and "Options". Step allows you to choose the intervals of the range, and will give you a text box to enter your desired increment. Options will give you a list that includes Show Mean, Show Median, Upper Bounds, and Lower Bounds. By selecting Show Mean or Show Median, the graph will highlight each range in red and label the mean and median values of that range of data. (see screen shot on left). Upper Bounds and Lower Bounds adjusts the range of the x or y variable to fit the graph starting from the minimum value on your axis (Lower) or from the maximum value (Upper). Categories grids the x and/or y axis and shows how they correspond with the opposite axis (similar to a scatter plot).



Venn Plot
To Graph Using a Venn Plot, first click the Venn Plot icon to switch to this graph. (See Understanding the Toolbar)

1) Click on the word "Field" located in the blue loop. Choose a variable.

2) Click on the icon "?" located next to "Field". The window will ask you to enter a value (or in some instances a word) in which you want represented of your variable. (Note* At the bottom of the window, it will give you a data range of what your value can be)

3) Adding another loop. To add another loop, click the icon on the bottom left of the screen (see picture on left)

4) Follow steps (1) - (2) to label the loop.

5) To delete a loop, click the square box attached to the loop. (see screen shot from steps 1-2) This will remove the whole loop and will move the data that was inside it outside of the Venn plot.

6) To color label the data plots, click the "Color by Field" icon located on the bottom toolbar. (circled on screen shot). Select the variable that you want color coded. To change the color formatting, click on the color scheme bar located on the top of the screen (circled on screen shot). Choose a color scheme of your choice.



Pie Plot
To Graph Using a Pie Plot, first click the Pie Plot icon to switch to this graph. (See Understanding the Toolbar)

1) Click on "Select Field" and select a variable

2) Once you select a variable, the graph will automatically choose one value of your variable and compare it to the rest. It will give you a basic color scheme, and organize the data points.





3) To color label the data plots, click the "Color by Field" icon located on the bottom toolbar. (circled on screen shot). Select the variable that you want color coded. To change the color formatting, click on the color scheme bar located on the top of the screen (circled on screen shot). Choose a color scheme of your choice.



4) To label the pie plot and evaluate the results of each pie slice, click on the "Operations" icon on the bottom toolbar. It will give you a list of options that will calculate either the Count, % of count, % of count in row, % of count in column, Total, % of total, % of total in row, % of total in column, Mean, Median, Smallest, and Largest. By selecting one of these options, the calculated results will appear in each pie slice. If "??" appears, then you need to be more specific as to what you want the operation to do. To do this, click on the icon "Field" next to the "Operation" icon on the bottom toolbar. Select a variable in which you want the operation to calculate.



Demonstration of Inspiredata Graphing
Here is my video demonstration on using Inspiredata for a specific data set. This is not a tutorial, but rather demonstrates how you should approach your data when graphing, and what effective tools you should use to best analyze your data.

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