Lab Name Measures of Center, Variability & Types of Statistical Graphs Using Experiments on the Effect of Noise in the Communication System.
Subject Area Mathematics
Grade 8 and 9
Topic Measures of Center, Variability, Types of Statistical Graphs, Bivariate Data & Scatter Plots
Experiment Title Finding the measures of central tendency & variability with the use of statistical graphs, bivariate data & scatter plot in analyzing the results/findings of the experiment.
Hardware
  • COSMOS Toolkit: Computer Node
Software
  • COSMOS Toolkit Framework
  • GNU Radio
Number of Sessions to teach the topic 5 - 7 sessions
Educational standards to be addressed
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.8.SP.A.1
    Construct and interpret scatter plots for bivariate measurement data to investigate patterns of association between two quantities. Describe patterns such as clustering, outliers, positive or negative association, linear association, and nonlinear association.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.8.SP.A.2
    Know that straight lines are widely used to model relationships between two quantitative variables. For scatter plots that suggest a linear association, informally fit a straight line, and informally assess the model fit by judging the closeness of the data points to the line.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.8.SP.A.3
    Use the equation of a linear model to solve problems in the context of bivariate measurement data, interpreting the slope and intercept.
  • CCSS.MATH.CONTENT.HSA.REI.D.10
    Understand that the graph of an equation in two variables is the set of all its solutions plotted in the coordinate plane, often forming a curve (which could be a line).
COSMOS concepts to be used for the lab Frequency, voltage, noise, decibel (dB), transmitter amplitude, noise amplitude, environmental noise, health hazards, noise path, receiver, noise source, PSK modulated signal, Constellation diagram
K12 Educational Goals (How the educational goals are achieved through teaching using the experiment, how the topic is connected to the COSMOS concepts used) Students will be using the simple classroom activity/research on types of environmental noise and apply concepts of measures of central tendency, variability & statistical graphs.

COSMOS toolkit and the noise sensor will be used for the application of these math concepts to analyzing noise in the communication system and environmental noise.
Short Description and Walk-through of the experiment
  • Day 1: Discussion & brainstorming on types of noise in the environment. Research on the effects of these noise to health and environment.
  • Day 2: Students will explore the effects of noise in the communication system by doing the experiment on psk-noise.grc and observe changes in the graphs as they change the noise amplitude and transmit signal amplitude. Graphic organizer will be provided to see what they are expected to record during the entire experiment. ( 2 symbols ).
  • Day 3: Continue exploring the experiment by doing 4 symbols in this session.
  • Day 4: Explore the 16 symbols and record data using graphic organizer and guide questions. Share the results in Google Classroom through powerpoint presentations.
  • Day 5: Project:
    • They will establish the graph of 2, 4 and 16 symbols and see the relationship between transmit signal amplitude & noise amplitude based on the 3 experiments.
    • Discuss the relationships between these bivariate data and find out any correlation between these two variables.
  • Day 6 - 7: Project:
    • Using the noise sensor, students will explore 10 areas that are really noisy and record data.
    • They will present the findings using any appropriate statistical graphs and find measures of center & variabilities as well as trends of any association between these two quantities.
Testbed mapping of the experiment The experiment can be extended by executing it using the COSMOS toolkit investigating the effects of noise in the communication system with 2, 4 and 16 symbols as well as use the noise sensor to measure different types of noise produce in the environment.

Experiment Execution

Select the desired number of symbols (2 or 4 or 16) you would like to observe the constellation points and press START. In order to terminate the experiment press STOP.

PSK Modulation
2 Symbols 4 Symbols 16 Symbols

Experiment Material

NGSS Lesson Plan
Worksheet
Other

© 2018 COSMOS Project. Created by Juditha Capa Damiao, Joseph F. Lamb School