MangroveWatch - Processing, Analysing and Evaluating Data

Australian curriculum content descriptions:

Year 9 Science:

• Ecosystems consist of communities of interdependent organisms and abiotic components of the environment; matter and energy flow through these systems (ACSSU176)
• People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE160)
• Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS169)
• Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS170)
• Evaluate conclusions, including identifying sources of uncertainty and possible alternative explanations, and describe specific ways to improve the quality of the data (ACSIS171)

Year 10 Science:

• The theory of evolution by natural selection explains the diversity of living things and is supported by a range of scientific evidence (ACSSU185)
• People use scientific knowledge to evaluate whether they accept claims, explanations or predictions, and advances in science can affect people’s lives, including generating new career opportunities (ACSHE194)
• Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS203)
• Use knowledge of scientific concepts to draw conclusions that are consistent with evidence (ACSIS204)
• Evaluate conclusions, including identifying sources of uncertainty and possible alternative explanations, and describe specific ways to improve the quality of the data (ACSIS205)

Year 11 and 12 Science – Biology

• Represent data in meaningful and useful ways; organise and analyse data to identify trends, patterns and relationships; qualitatively describe sources of measurement error, and uncertainty and limitations in data; and select, synthesise and use evidence to make and justify conclusions (ACSBL004)

Syllabus outcomes: SC5-14LW, SC5-13ES, SC5-7W

General capabilities: Critical and Creative Thinking, Numeracy

Cross-curriculum priority: Sustainability OI.9

Relevant parts of Year 9 Science achievement standards: Students analyse how biological systems function and respond to external changes. They analyse trends in data, identify relationships between variables and reveal inconsistencies in results. They analyse their methods and the quality of their data, and explain specific actions to improve the quality of their evidence.

Relevant parts of Year 10 Science achievement standards: When analysing data, selecting evidence and developing and justifying conclusions, students identify alternative explanations for findings and explain any sources of uncertainty.

Year 11 and 12 Science students:

• use science inquiry skills to design, conduct, evaluate and communicate investigations into biodiversity and flows of matter and energy in a range of ecosystems.

Unit of work: MangroveWatch – Years 9 to 12

Time required: 180 minutes

Level of teacher scaffolding: Medium – assist students’ interpretation of MangroveWatch Science Hub’s analysis of data sets. Oversee students completion of tasks including the use of MangroveWatch data sets to create pre-formatted charts depicting variables used to assess mangrove and salt marsh distribution, health and condition. Teachers lead students in discussion and reflection.

• Access to device and programs capable of supporting Microsoft Excel
• Student Worksheet – one copy per student
• Mooloolah MangroveWatch Report
• Samoa MangroveWatch Report
• SVAM Samoa Data Worksheet
• SVAM Own Data Worksheet
• Data Analysis Sheets
• Own Data or Mooloolah SVAM Data

This lesson is designed to build students’ competencies in the following skills:

• Collaboration
• Communication
• Creativity
• Critical thinking

The lessons in this unit have been developed in partnership with Earthwatch and MangroveWatch. Earthwatch is a global not-for-profit organisation that uses citizen science to empower people to save the natural world, and works with all sectors to create a society that lives in balance with nature. MangroveWatch is a not-for-profit organisation that focuses on the research, education and conservation of mangrove and tidal wetland environments globally.