Sharing Data Using Padlet
Are dominant traits more common than recessive traits?
Recently we collected genetics data from around the world using Google Forms. Read about that here. We collected close to 4000 responses. This is a copy of a Google Sheet showing the responses.
I divided my students into 9 groups. Each group analyzed the data for one trait. Then they created a bar graph (using Pages) showing the frequency of that trait. This is their project sheet. Students posted their bar graphs to a Padlet wall and then used the wall to answer our big question: Are dominant traits more common than recessive traits?
So, are dominant traits more common than recessive traits? Our survey says no. Here are a couple of articles that explain why.
"Dominant vs. Recessive"
Is having 5 fingers a dominant trait?
I like using Padlet to allow students to share and collaborate. Today I had students read about a genetic disorder and create a poster on that disorder. They saved the poster to their camera roll and then added it to a Padlet. Tomorrow we will use the Padlet wall to do a some carousel learning about different genetic disorders. How do you use Padlet?
I made an Infographic!
I <3 Infographics! I have been in love with infographics for a few years now and this is the first infographic that I have ever created. I created it for my application for the EdTech Teacher Google for Education Jamboree. I hope I get to go!
As you can see above, I created it using Piktochart. Give it a try! It is not too hard. I am about as unartistic as they come and I think it came out alright.
Genetics Survey
When it is time to teach about genetics I have my students do a quick tried and true activity that every life science class in the world does. Students look at observable Mendelian traits. They record their traits and look at the class and team data as a whole to see if there are any trends in the data. We also use this as a jumping off point for discussing dominant and recessive traits.
Last year my Curriculum Coordinator approached me to team teach a lesson on this topic. She proposed extending the lesson by creating a digital survey. We then challenged the students to push the survey out to as many people as possible. We wanted them to try to collect data from all 50 states and all 7 continents.
The big question is "Are dominant traits more frequent than recessive traits in a large population?" This lesson also promotes digital citizenship by showing students how quickly things can spread online and showing them ways to use social media that they might not have thought of before.
Last year we collected approximately 2000 responses. This year the students were challenged to collect more data than the previous year. Students are much more interested in this activity using real data that they collect than if I were to just tell them an answer. They feel ownership of the data. They love to get updates on where in the world we have collected responses from and how many responses we have collected. Additionally, this survey gets them thinking about ways to collect data and the validity of that data.
Our survey is pretty simple. It is a Google Form and the results come back to us in a spreadsheet. As of right now we have 3785 results. Feel free to help us out by taking our survey below
Here are the results of the survey.
