PROJECT DESCRIPTION
CensusAtSchool is a flexible resource that has application in many subject areas. It provides a unique student learning opportunity for Australian school students to use technology to investigate questions of interest to them through the analysis of data about themselves.The questionnaire response data is also supported by a range of classroom activities for use in Mathematics and SOSE/HSIE. The activities have been prepared and reviewed by practising teachers from around Australia. They are designed to engage students with using statistics across the curriculum. CensusAtSchool also encourages teachers and students from all year levels to structure their own learning by accessing the data directly through the Random Sampler. The data pool can be accessed from the sampler at any time, on an ongoing basis. Questionnaire response data from 2006 and 2008 is now available.
Origins of the CensusAtSchool Project
The Australian CensusAtSchool is based on a program developed by the Royal Statistical Society (RSS) Centre for Statistical Education in the United Kingdom. The UK project has been extremely successful in improving statistical literacy and was successfully extended to all provinces in South Africa. Since then, other organisations have adapted the project to suit their local environment, namely Canada, New Zealand, the Office of Economic and Statistical Research (OESR) in Queensland and the Noel Baker Centre for School Mathematics in South Australia. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) is proud to present CensusAtSchool on a National level and is looking forward to continuing this exciting and engaging education project into the future for Australian school teachers and students.
Who Has Been Involved In The Development Of CensusAtSchool?
In Australia, a range of experts and key stakeholders have been involved in the development of CensusAtSchool to ensure the project retains maximum value in the classroom. Students and teachers have played a key role in the development of the questionnaire, targeting areas of interest and refining the wording of questions. Teachers, education bodies and education departments have been involved in a consultation process for the development of the educational strategy and teaching materials. ABS has also drawn on the experiences of CensusAtSchool projects undertaken in other parts of the world.
CensusAtSchool Phases
The project is conducted in two phases. The Questionnaire phase encourages students to collect real data about themselves by responding to non-invasive questions about themselves via the CensusAtSchool online questionnaire. Once the questionnaire closes, the response data is released online (via the Random Sampler facility) for teachers and students to access raw data to carry out investigations in an engaging learning environment.
The Questionnaire will be conducted annually from 2010. Once the data is released, it is accessible on an ongoing basis and is freely available to all teachers and students.
 Term 1 and 2 : New Questionnaire opens
Australian school students access and complete an on-line questionnaire that contains questions about their everyday lives and relates to their experiences, opinions and interests. The 2010 Questionnaire is now open until 2 July 2010.
 Term 3 and 4: New data is available on the Random Sampler
After every live questionnaire closes, new data will be added to the CensusAtSchool database. The database contains the responses to the online questionnaire completed by Australian students, and can be accessed via the Random Sampler for ongoing use. This means students can access data from previous project years AT ANY TIME throughout the year. Using the Random Sampler, teachers and students can take samples of raw, Australian-wide data to investigate questions that interest them! The 2010 data will be added to the Random Sampler in July next year.
What Is the Value of CensusAtSchool?
CensusAtSchool can help make statistics alive and relevant in the classroom. Students have direct access to raw data samples which will provide them with the flexibility to raise their own questions and initiates student-led investigations. The best part is that students are part of the data, and are aware of the process by which the data was collected.
For teachers, CensusAtSchool provides a premium teaching resource that can be used across a range of year levels and subject areas. Teachers can choose to utilise the learning materials provided, which facilitate both minimal and extensive use of IT, or create their own exercises from the data. For teachers of senior students the large volume of raw data available will be an invaluable resource, particularly as a source of continuous data. CensusAtSchool can be used to teach a range of statistical concepts and develop skills in planning, organising, analysis and communication. CensusAtSchool also provides an opportunity for teachers to improve their spreadsheet skills along with their students. Professional development videos are available free online. Access the videos via the Professional Development page.
For students, the project promotes the use of ICT in their investigations of real, raw data about themselves and other Australian and international students. Access to a large database will be a valuable resource for student originated investigations. CensusAtSchool also enables students to have fun whilst learning about statistics and enhancing their skills. The data can be used in investigations that are truly cross curricula. The analysis can be carried out in Mathematics (or SOSE/HSIE) and the information passed on to be used in SOSE/HSIE.
A range of activities are also provided. Most activities use spreadsheets and some require internet access. The activities will help stimulate other ideas that students can use as their own investigation topic. The activity "Boys make better drivers than girls" could be amended to be "Blondes will make the worst drivers" or "Left handed boys will be better footballers". The variations are up to students' imaginations.
Future of CensusAtSchool
CensusAtSchool is an ongoing project accessible through the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website. Access to the Random Sampler for available data will remain on the ABS website and can be used at any time.
The intention of the ABS is to conduct the CensusAtSchool project (via a new questionnaire) each year. This will provide data that will enable students to make longitudinal studies in the future.
The international aspect of the project is also seen as a focus area, with the anticipation of more countries getting on board in the future. This will serve to further diversify the response data available for student analysis and classroom activities.
It is also envisaged that the web pages will grow to include case studies of how teachers have used the data in their classrooms and other activities initiated by teachers.
Special Thanks to Key CensusAtSchool contacts
Royal Statistical Society (RSS) Centre for Statistical Education
goVote - Web based voting and surveys.
Chocolate Designs / OBM - Electronic & Print Media Design & Online Business Management Services
Teachers and Students from around Australia
The CensusAtSchool Reference Group Members
The intermediaries from each state:
ACT
Australian Capital Territory Department of Education and Training
Catholic Education Office
Association of Independent Schools
South Australia
Department of Education and Children's Services
Catholic Education South Australia
Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
Noel Baker Centre for School Mathematics
Northern Territory
NT Department of Employment, Education and Training
Catholic Education NT
Association of Independent Schools of the NT
New South Wales
NSW Department of Education and Training
Catholic Education Commission
Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Western Australia
Government of WA Department of Education and Training
Catholic Education Office of WA
Association of Independent Schools of WA Inc
Tasmania
Department of Education Tasmania
Catholic Education Office Tasmania
Association of Independent Schools of Tasmania
Queensland
Queensland Government Office of Economic and Statistical Research
Education Queensland
Queensland Catholic Education Commission
Association of Independent Schools of Queensland
Victoria
Department of Education and Training
Catholic Education Office
Association of Independent Schools
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