Calculating the mean of values stored in a list
By: Steven Floyd and Lisa Anne Floyd
-EDUCATOR PAGE-
In this activity, students will create a program that determines the mean heart rate based on ten heart rate values.
*Scroll down for Curriculum Expectation Connections
Students will then have the opportunity to change the program to:
- calculate the mean of 15 and 20 heart rate values
- calculate the mean of values that are related to something that might be of interest to them (i.e., sports, art, temperatures, etc.)
- obtain the values from the user of the program
The students can start the activity at this page, where they will find all of the instructions for completing the program in Scratch.
The instructions include a video, that takes them through the steps to creating the program, and a step-by-step pdf tutorial guide that also shows the steps involved in creating the program if students prefer screen prints rather than a video. Extension activities listed above are also suggested.
You can see the final program that students create here, and a screen shot is below:
Grade 8 Mathematics Curriculum Expectations Addressed
Algebra – Coding Skills
Overall Expectation
C3. solve problems and create computational representations of mathematical situations using coding concepts and skills
Specific Expectations:
C3.1 solve problems and create computational representations of mathematical situations by writing and executing code, including code that involves the analysis of data in order to inform and communicate decisions
C3.2 read and alter existing code involving the analysis of data in order to inform and communicate decisions, and describe how changes to the code affect the outcomes and the efficiency of the code
Students are also reviewing expectations from previous grades in the Data and Number strands:
Data – Data Analysis
Overall Expectation
D1. manage, analyse, and use data to make convincing arguments and informed decisions, in various contexts drawn from real life *mean, mode, median
Number – Multiplication and Division
Overall Expectation
B2. use knowledge of numbers and operations to solve mathematical problems encountered in everyday life