Evaluation of InspireData

This tool provides pre-made data sets for students to use in evaluation of graphs or date sets for many application of math. InspireData is a software program for the computer. The program is valuable as both a reference tool and a drill-and-practice tool. As a reference tool, students may look up data to use in a presentation or project they are working on that needs available data. InspireData provides this information to students so they do not have to find information on their own. As a drill-and-practice tool, students are able to use these data sets and go over previously covered material from a lecture. If a teacher is reviewing graph plotting or finding data trends, then the student may use this program to explore the content and use this tool as a review tool. I believe this tool is more of a reference, but in certain cases, this could be used as a drill-and-practice tool if the teacher wants the students to practice taught applications of math to review for a test.

InspireData allows students and teachers to look at and organize data sets with the field area. The example I looked at showed body proportions, and teachers or students could use this to find a relation in body height and arm length, if one exists. Or, they can organize the different people who gave body measurements into groups according to different lengths of body parts, gender, or age.

The education value this program holds is students do not have to look up data sets for projects or further learning, because the program already has data sets. This program saves time and increases efficiency for students and teachers who need an available data set. Mathematics always uses statistic information, and this efficient use make InspireData an easy and fun way to look at data. The content areas I believe will most benefit from this tool are higher level math classes such as statistics, algebra, or graphing.