EDUC 6305 Advanced Educ.Tech. Excel 2 Activity #24

What factor, if any, does gender play in 8th grade math performance?

To complete activities Excel 1 and 2,  it required the use of data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Excel activity 2 focused on developing a research question, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis (two samples) and conducting a t-test. To conduct a t-test,  the NAEP 2011 8th Grade (WV) state math averages (male and female) were used.  
The Research Question: What factor, if any, does gender play in 8th grade math performance?
Hypothesis:  
H0: There is a difference between the male and female scores.
H1: There is no difference.(Null hypothesis)
After completing the t-test, (see chart above) the conclusion is: There is not a significant difference in male and female scores. We must Accept the Null Hypothesis. 
Designing instruction is driven by data and it's imperative for educators to disaggregate and use data in a meaningful way to benefit students.  For the most part, data is delivered to the public school teacher after high-stakes assessments.  The data is presented and teachers compile, plan and revise instruction accordingly.  So, the option of using the t-test for quantitative research in the classroom would be beneficial and provide the teacher with an option to compare two groups of interest.

NETS-T:  Teachers conducting quantitative research in the classroom, or analyzing the results of existing data exhibit leadership by implementing digital tools and resources.  Understanding the role of statistics in the classroom allows the teacher to continuously improve curriculum/instruction and personalize learning.
5. Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
    c. make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning