‘Finding the right way to view your data is as much an art as a science.’

Topic or Tool: Many Eyes. A project and website set up to enable anyone to share data and data analysis. More importantly it allows anyone to create, edit, share data visualizations.

What does it cost? FREE.

How it could be used for teaching?

Anywhere you use data, Many Eyes can help. Sharing data, presenting data, investigating and evaluating data. This resource includes over 16 different visualisation tools so if its data you need to check out Many Eyes.

If you can not find a novel use for Many Eyes then I would be very surprised. We will be using Many Eyes to target and explore the large data sets now mandatory for the new curriculum. Combine this with the statistics available at the OECD (organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) and you have a powerful lesson in the making. Or perhaps you may decide to use a Google Form to collect data not solely from one group of students but a whole year, school, county, country? Is that large enough? As an example, we researched and sourced over 291  unique movie titles (any imperfect entries or duplicates were deleted, 611 total entries were recorded) from 4  groups working collaboratively and simultaneously in preparation for Unit 7, ‘Use and Design Databases.’ The data set was certainly more comprehensive and current than the measly 30 the board provided. If you want to add to the list, please do. We add some fun challenges, like the oldest film, long Directors name. If you want a copy of the list, you only have to ask.

On the plus side, I brought home my ‘work’ laptop and installed the TRIAL Serif software I requested / was sent by Serif. So far I am very pleased with what I have encountered.  I felt that DRAW Plus software very suitable, easy to understand and the products could swiftly created. I am sure that there is much more to discover and I hardly investigated the animation options, which look interesting. The tutorials would prove useful teaching aids, but I would like more screencasts as shown on the website. Overall 8/10, a reasonable friendly software option that and might prove useful not only for Unit 2 (Web Creation), Unit 3 (Digital Imaging) and Unit 23 (Digital Video) but also Unit 4 (MultiMedia Products). We might even use Draw X2 to help emphase the branding and house style required in Unit 1. It may also prove useful for Technology. Movie Plus was quite advanced, probably a lot more advanced than we would need at Level 2 but that’s not to say it is not appropriate. Given time, I will let you know what I think of the other products. In the meantime you can read more at the Serif website or email then at ocr@serif.com