Power Metering Project

This activity focuses on applying analytic tools such as pie charts and bar graphs to gain a better understanding of practical energy use issues. It also provides experience with how different types of data collected affect the outcome of statistical visualization tools.

Go To:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/education/pdfs/acts_heinzerling_powermetering_316.pd...

Department of Energy Academies Creating Teacher Scientists

Department of Energy,

Notes From Our Reviewers

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Teaching Tips

Frequent check-ins while student teams are working on this project would be beneficial.

About the Science

A solid grounding or background in basic statistics will help learners grasp the analysis used in this activity.

Passed initial science review - expert science review pending.

About the Pedagogy

A math activity about energy - students will learn about energy usage. Requires familiarity with certain numerical analysis and data interpretation tools such as Excel that may be more appropriate for higher grade levels.

Students collect data they use in the activity using a powder meter. Data analysis is done with a TI-84 calculator and Excel.

This lesson was written for a high school AP statistics course. The statistical math skills needed to successfully complete the Power Metering activity are clearly outlined. The team-based assessment asks students to apply their skills outside of class time. There are multiple ways students can apply statistical skills learned in this activity to their own home power consumption.

Technical Details

The lesson provides the questions that students can investigate, and then the data collection is up to the students.

Formative assessments and assessment in the form of an analytical report can be added to enrich this activity but should be grounded in an understanding of statistics.

Literacy and Resources

Relation Link:

http://cleanet.org/resources/43009.html

Topics:

Efficiency and Conservation

Energy Use

Grade Level:

College Lower (13-14)

High School (9-12)