Hypothesis Testing

My t tests are linked in my previous post, but I failed to mention my findings on my research question.  

Research Question

Does age affect one's Millennial score?

Hypothesis

Those who are 29 years of age or younger will have higher Millennial scores than their older classmates.

Null Hypothesis

Age will not be a factor in determining one's Millennial score.

I noticed that my classmates Millennial scores were greatly skewed, but I was more curious to see if the scores reflected whether or not they were true to the generation they said they represented.  Before performing my t-Test I sorted the age column in ascending order, had Excel find descriptive statistics on the data since age is a continuous variable (a step that wasn't necessary for this part of my t-Test), and made the 29 the high/low cut-off age for Millennial scores when performing my t-Test.  What I found was that those aged 29 and younger do, in fact, have higher Millennial scores than their older classmates as the data below indicates.

Initially I misinterpreted things and thought I had to perform descriptive statistics on my data because one of my variables was age, but I realized that the way my hypothesis was worded enabled me to work around that.  Since I had already completed the work I thought I would just go ahead and throw it out here.  I went ahead and did the descriptive stats.  Excel gave me the mean age as 32.  I performed my t-Test with 32 being my high/low cut off and found that even at that age there was a significant difference.  Those 32 and younger had higher Millennial scores as the data below shows.

                                                                      

This assignment falls under ISTE NETS T standard 3 because we each had to demonstrate knowledge of Excel and its various functions in order to analyze and interpret data.  Being fluent with such programs enables us to look at our classrooms in ways that many of us probably haven't considered before.  We're now gaining experiencing in knowing how to take down data, analyze and interpret data, and then effectively communicate how to better educate.

t tests

Here are my t test results.  I went through initially and got all sorts of whacky numbers.  I retraced my steps, watched Dr. Pierce's tutorials a few times, and finally realized I was a knucklehead who skipped a vital step.

Data Analysis

This assignment requires us to analyze the data we have been provided in the spreadsheet and come up with two research questions and hypotheses.  This assignment is sort of backwards to me.  I did the psych undergrad thing so I'm accustomed to collecting my data after devising my hypothesis, but this works just as well.

Research Question 1
Does age affect one's Millenial score?
   Hypothesis
   Those who are 29 years of age and younger will have higher Millenial scores than their older classemates.
   Null Hypothesis
   Age will not be a factor in determining one's Millenial score.
   Independent Variable                           Dependent Variable
   Age                                                         Millenial score

Research Question 2
Does a non-teaching status have a positive correlative effect on quiz scores?
    Hypothesis
    Those who are not currently teaching score higher on quiz scores.
    Null Hypothesis
    Teaching status has no correlative effect on quiz scores
    Independent Variable                          Dependent Variable
    Teaching status                                      Quiz score
   
This assignment fits ISTE NETS T standard 3 because we have analyzed this data and will now be using this information to collaborate with our peers in a digital class setting.

Excel Basics

For this assignment we were to download data compiled from the survey we took at the midterm using Excel.  From there we were to take the text values and convert them to discrete numerical values.  This enabled me to order those values in ascending and descending orders, average the lists to compare myself to my classmates, and get my "Excel legs" back.  It's been a while since I've used Excel as extensively as this. It's nice to become familiar with Excel again.  By sorting this information I'll be able to form my hypothesis and null hypothesis for the next assignment.

This assignment fits the ISTE NETS T standard 3 because it models digital age work and learning.  Excel is great if you want to analyze data.

Research Overview - The Exhilaration of Installing Analysis Toolpak

For the next few assignments we are going to be crunching some numbers in an active research within the education field using MS Excel.  I like the motivation behind this assignment.  Dr. Pierce points out that West Virginia is nearly dead last in so many categories it's sad.  To understand this better we have to look at many contributing factors to possibly recognize causal relationships.  In order to do this efficiently and effectively we had to install the Analysis ToolPak with a little help from the instructions provided in the link.  The link directs you to the Excel add-ins menu bar and from there you follow a simple series of steps to install the toolpak.

This assignment covers standard three of the ISTE NETS T standards because it models digital-age learning as we demonstrate fluency in technology by accessing the ToolPak.

Midterm Self Assessment

At the midterm I'm feeling pretty good about this class.  I'm more pressed for time than I have ever been so I'm getting assignments in a few days late and I've got to knock that off.  There's really no excuse for it.  I've also neglected my Diigo.  It's not like I don't think about posting to it, it's just that a lot of the stuff that I want to post to it don't really pertain to this class.  I have things to work on but short of my shortcomings I feel like I've learned a lot from this class.  It's challenging and fun.  Our midterm was in the form of a survey.  I think I did well.  Had a little trouble on the name part but from there it was smooth sailing......I think.

The midterm would fit ISTE NETS T standard 2 because it was the epitome of a digital age assessment.  Online surveys are a great way to determine the scope of a classes progress through course material.

PEW Millennial Test

A Millennial is the up and coming generation.  Born in 1981, I am a Millennial.  The average score for a Millennial is a 73, I scored a 94 on the test.  I took it twice cause I thought I messed something up.  This is a really interesting site.  It goes over the entire demographic of Millennials and breaks down their characteristics in terms of their connections through multimedia outlets and social networking sites.  The site also provides info on social trends, values, and political views.  There is also a full report with much more detailed information available as a PDF.  This is a site that I'll be sharing with my friends.  Until this website I hadn't seen such comprehensive data on my generation.

This assignment fits the ISTE NETS T standard 3 because it is a very relevant site with applicable information for modeling digital age work that can serve colleagues, students, and parents.  One could adapt many engaging lesson plans using this website if they were to take some time with it and read over the information available to them.

Personality Profile 2

The Jung Typology Test pegged me as a ISFP.  It was a relief to know that I can call myself as I see myself. Knowing that I'm a quick to act on impulse type of person, I recognize that I need to reign in some of those impulses at the workplace.  There are times when I get an idea to implement a project or a lesson that I've put very little planning into and then it suddenly crashes and burns.  Now that I'm co-teaching with some very well organized veteran teachers I won't have the opportunity to unleash mayhem on classrooms as I have in the past.

I'll be honest, at first I was curious why were doing this assignment.  It seemed a bit out of place, but I get it now.  Awareness of the MBTI framework and one's personality type can help professionals reflect on how their self-awareness affects their interactions with others and their overall impact on their work environment.  

This assignment fits the ISTE NETS T standard five by engaging each of us in a level of professional growth.  We used the MBTI, Keirsey Temperament Overview, and Jung Typology Test to improve as educators and continue lifelong learning. 

Personality Profile 1

For this post we were to read up on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality inventory and the Keirsey temperament overview.  From the Myers-Briggs we were to develop a hypothetical personality temperament and then find out more about that temperament from the Keirsey overview.  

According to the Myers-Briggs, my personality type is: ISFP.  Keirsey states that this personality type is an artisan, in particular a composer.  This personality type has a solid grasp on their sense and on what belongs, or doesn't fit, in most works of art.  I feel I have a firm grasp on my senses.  They've never led me astray....yet.  I've never considered myself a composer of art.  I doodle, I play a little guitar, I sing a little diddy here and there, I write stuff that makes me and friends laugh from time to time but I keep it within the confines of my home.  The profile did state that ISFPs do keep their work out of the public eye so I suppose that makes sense.  ISFPs are caught up in the act of being and they're drawn to nature.  They do things just to do them.  Compositions aren't planned out but rather compulsory acts strait from the brain to the hand to the canvas, paper, reed, string, bow, pen, what-have-you.  That's me to a T.  I'm a compulsive, be in the moment type person.  Now that doesn't always translate into art.  There are times when I'm compelled to start walking or take a hike or explore the woods in a friends backyard.  It's just my nature.  ISFPs are also quiet and need time to themselves but are very sensitive to the needs of others.  I can relate to this trait as well.  I need my quiet time to keep myself in check and think freely, but I'm always willing to compromise that for someone in need.  I'm a sucker for taking care of people.  It also says that ISFPs have a way with young children and animals.  That caught my attention because I've always wondered what it was about me that young kids and dogs are drawn to.  I walk through a grocery store and nearly every kid riding in a cart will smile and wave to me without me even making eye contact.  Think I'm making it up?  Let's go hang out in the cereal isle.  I also have a ton of fun hanging out with my nieces and nephews when I get a chance.  As far as dogs are concerned, I understand them and they seem to get me for whatever reason. That doesn't mean they're all obedient to me.  I'm not claiming to be the next Dog Whisperer.  That Jack Russel is still going to pee all over your couch and eat your carpet when I leave but it's not going to jump on my lap while I'm there.   I think this personality overview has some aspects that fit me quite well.  I didn't really know what to think when I pulled up the Keirsey site and saw it listed under the Artisan section as Composer but I'm more of a believer after reading the full overview   

Audacity Part 2

My project is complete!  After hours of cursing LAME I realized I was the one with the deficiency.  I hit a minor hiccup and turned it into a spastic choking fit.  In reality this project was only as difficult as you made it on yourself.  I took plenty of time to work on actually piecing things together, I just didn't take the time to make sure I knew how to transition smoothly from one program to another.  Once I converted my project into Mp3 format I created a Podbean account and then uploaded my podcast.  Below is my finished podcast and snippets from my project.  Again, I found this challenging and extremely fun.

The ISTE NETS T standards that best encompass this project would be both one and three.  This project inspired those who engaged in it to be creative by manipulating others' artistic endeavors into something that was uniquely their own while learning to use a new tool.  It also enabled each and every one of us in this class to demonstrate just how effectively we are able to communicate information using digital tools in a variety of formats that many of us were not familiar with up until this point.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

Audacity Part 1

This assignment has been the most challenging and the most enjoyable.  We were to create a podcast with different soundbites intermixed with our own commentary using Audacity.  I chose to create a podcast on my evolution through "musical evolution" and incorporated several different song clips and two separate interviews from artists I enjoy.  I've never had any experience with any type of software like this but once I began playing around with it I found it to be fun.  I spent a lot of time just getting lost playing around with cutting up sound bites and clipping songs.  Once we finished our project we were to download LAME in order to convert our project to an MP3 file so that we would be able to publish it.  This is where I am currently stuck.  I have been battling this program for two evenings now.  Either it doesn't want to work with me or I'm being to dense to work with it at the moment.  I've read all of the instructions, watched numerous tutorials, and read my classmates posts on the discussion boards for guidance but can't seem to get the thing to cooperate.  It's frustrating to say the least but it doesn't overshadow the enjoyment I've had completing this project.  I'm hoping to get this thing figured out before my time is up tonight and get my podcast posted.