In which I giggle at my pupils responses to exam questions...
My bottom set Yr 11 did an experiment to investigate insulating materials, in which they covered beakers with black paper, white paper and tinfoil , filled them with hot water and measured the temperature change each minute.
Q: If you had been able to use one more value of this variable, what value would you have chosen? (Basically what else could you cover the beaker with?)
A: Clingfilm, because black and white paper are opposites and tinfoil and clingfilm are opposites which would make the test fair!
Q: What should the manufacturer have done with this result before calculating the mean? (Its an anomalous result... one which is clearly wrong... the others are 15.0 and 15.5... this one is 4.4)
A: Done the test again (This would get the mark) or looked at the other test results and changed it so it is the same.
*facepalm* At least I have them trained to use the words fair test and accuracy liberally, even if they don't know what they mean!!!
Q: If you had been able to use one more value of this variable, what value would you have chosen? (Basically what else could you cover the beaker with?)
A: Clingfilm, because black and white paper are opposites and tinfoil and clingfilm are opposites which would make the test fair!
Q: What should the manufacturer have done with this result before calculating the mean? (Its an anomalous result... one which is clearly wrong... the others are 15.0 and 15.5... this one is 4.4)
A: Done the test again (This would get the mark) or looked at the other test results and changed it so it is the same.
*facepalm* At least I have them trained to use the words fair test and accuracy liberally, even if they don't know what they mean!!!