STEM Enrichment Activity
A Data Analysis Project for students interested in Biomedical Sciences & Engineering Design.
INTRODUCTION
The importance of data analysis is vital in any career, especially as it relates to a profession in STEM. In fact, the reality is that no present-day industry can survive or stay competitive without analyzing available data and making informed decisions for possible improvements from statistical information. Thus, learning how to gather, analyze and interpret data is an important skill to learn, develop and apply in real-world settings.
Some essential benefits that data analysis offer are:
Some essential benefits that data analysis offer are:
- organizing findings from survey research or other means of data collection
- gaining meaningful insights from the datasets
- ruling out human bias through proper statistical treatments
- making critical decisions from the findings.
I. DEFINING THE PROBLEM
Students will define and describe a problem that is in their chosen area of interest in engineering. The problem definition will need to answer the following questions: what is the problem or need, who has the problem or need and why is it important to solve? In addition, the problem definition will need to include the social, economic, historical and/or political perspectives, if applicable.
II. DATA COLLECTION & ANALYSIS
Once the problem has been defined clearly and comprehensively, students will need to provide data that supports their argument stated in the problem. This statistical evidence can be collected from surveys or be compiled from research by using reputable sources from the internet, textbooks, etc. After all necessary data has been assembled, suitable graphs (i.e. pie charts, histograms) need to be created to illustrate the data, with appropriate descriptions to explain the data. The analysis should include important statistical terms such as mean, median, mode, range, standard deviation, interquartile range, decrease, increase, and so forth.
III. PLAN OF ACTION
Based upon the extensive analysis that was done, students will develop key goal(s) needed to solve the problem being defined. This can include a sought after vision for your cause, a mission statement, particular objectives to achieve and a theoretical strategic plan for the future. After the goal(s) is/are established, students will create a detailed plan of action to help solve the problems and give needed support to the broad system. This plan of action must include (1) multiple specific tasks and/or activities to be done in order to move towards the general goal(s), (2) measureable milestones for each task and/or activity to be accomplished, (3) resources that are needed to make the task and/or activities happen, and (4) determine who should be made in charge of each task and/or activity.
IV. CREATE THE PRODUCT
Students will create a product (or model of a product) that supports their goal(s) set in their action plan. This product (or model of a product) can range from creative mediums such as a newspaper press release, magazine article, an appropriate scale drawing of a model, or a three-dimensional model (using engineering resources).
V. RE-EVALUATION PLAN
In the final process of the data analysis project, students will create a process to re-evaluate their plan of action and product to determine possible weaknesses within the plan and/or product and ensure continuous quality for the system. This re-evaluation plan must include a mechanism to track progress with each action step and/or activity and a process to monitor the proposed product or model.
VI. PRESENTATION
After the data analysis project is completed, students will create a presentation to show a panel of professionals as their capstone for the academic year. This project will include all necessary information to describe the story of the defined problem, the general details in the data analysis, the proposed action plan steps, the visual model and the re-evaluation plan. Students can use PowerPoint, Prezi, a display board, or any other presentation forms. In additions, students will be expected to be knowledgeable about the details in the project. The panel will be allowed to ask questions about the project.
PROJECT GUIDELINES & EXPECTATIONS
1. Students will submit each section into Infinite Campus for the instructor’s approval. The instructor may give valuable feedback on missing information, next steps and/or inappropriate material inside the section that will need to be changed.
2. Each section should be completed in a word document, with Times New Roman size 12 font.
3. Since this is a research-based professional document, students will be expected to use academic scholarly language throughout the project and adhere to American English standards in regards to proper grammar usage.
4. Academic Honesty is expected. Students may not lie, cheat, plagiarize or impart any deceitfulness in this document. Such actions will results in disciplinary action and reductions in project scoring. Any information supplied from research should be cited in APA style format.
5. Students may use field experts in the process of completing their project for their expertise and knowledge in their particular arena. However, any information supplied from these valuable sources must also be cited in APA style format.
2. Each section should be completed in a word document, with Times New Roman size 12 font.
3. Since this is a research-based professional document, students will be expected to use academic scholarly language throughout the project and adhere to American English standards in regards to proper grammar usage.
4. Academic Honesty is expected. Students may not lie, cheat, plagiarize or impart any deceitfulness in this document. Such actions will results in disciplinary action and reductions in project scoring. Any information supplied from research should be cited in APA style format.
5. Students may use field experts in the process of completing their project for their expertise and knowledge in their particular arena. However, any information supplied from these valuable sources must also be cited in APA style format.