Question

How to handle the data?

Answer 1

Data handling is one of the central activities in which real mathematicians engage: they are frequently analysing data that they have gathered in various contexts and looking for patterns and generalities within them. In schools we often undertake tasks in which we encourage children to collect data about themselves and their friends but the emphasis tends to be on presenting data in a variety of forms such as bar charts or pictograms. Analysis is often confined to identifying the most popular or least popular item. These limitations tend to restrict the interest and variety of the contexts that are explored, and fail to engage children in any significant mathematical thinking.