This coming Tuesday, November 14, the New York Times Learning Network is releasing its third monthly What's Going On in This Graph? (WGOITGraph?). The feature, a partnership with the American Statistical Association, is free and online. It aims to help students understand statistics in context by critically thinking and writing about graphs. A variation of the Learning Network's popular What's Going on in this Picture, WGOITGraph? is a monthly feature on the second Tuesday of the month (November 14, December 12, etc.) through the end of the school year in May.
Monthly at 9 am on the second Tuesday, WGOITGraph? presents a New York Times graph. From 9 am – 2 pm, a team of ASA teachers moderate the live discussion focused on the questions:
· What do you notice?
· What do you wonder?
· What's going on in this graph?
You probably recognize the first two questions. They are the Math Forum/NCTM's Noticing and Wondering strategy. To learn more about how to use this strategy, go to Annie Fetter's video and our two-page explanation.
On the Friday following the release, the New York Times Learning Network publishes a follow-up with details about the graph and statistical observations and lessons from the ASA team. All WGOITGraph? are archived to use at any time on the New York Times Learning Network site under Multimedia activities. Already in the archives is a scatterplot on nutrition and a map on climate.
The feature's main audience is middle and high school math, science, and humanities students, but all are encouraged to participate.
Please spread the word with your school colleagues and networks (and on social media!).
Sharon Hessney