Gapminder is truly a revolutionary tool. It allows people to envision statistical information in a very comprehensible way through graphs that display bubbles of country data. The information is based on development over time according to the years in which data has been made available. The access to valuable information is now a reality. The United Nations has provided their databases to feed the application with meaningful and accurate information. Indeed, the Human Development Report (HDR) indicators provide valuable data for the creation of the charts. Recently, Google bought the application and it is now possible to use it online for free.
When I started using Gapminder I wanted to see information about Peru. My first thought was to check about computers and internet. I set the y axis indicator to show Internet users (per 100 people) and the x axis to Personal computers (per 100 people). The result shows me that by 2004 there are 9.7 personal computers per 100 people and 12 internet users per 100 people. Then I compared the data with the USA using trails. This time I get that by 2004 there were 76 PCs per 100 people and 63 Internet users per 100 people. That is a huge difference. I continues playing with other variable and each time I did that I had to think very clearly about what I wanted to achieve. There is a lot of higher order thinking involved and I truly believe this is the most important characteristic of this application. Other than that, users need to have some understanding of the meaning of the indicators if they truly want to do complicated analysis.
I have never seen a tool like this and hope that schools can promote the use of this application for the benefit of diminishing the negative myths on the use of statistics in secondary education. Using a tool like this, allows students to modify the axis of the graph and plot information according to their own needs. This is a genuine way to promote a fact based world view, as conceived by the creators of the application. Now, poor countries can use information to understand how the world has developed and predict the trends to where it is heading. Using Gapminder, people can see information through a series of moving graphics that amongst other things can be used to describe some of the key determinants of health and the links between poverty and health.
On the other hand, the presentation of the information is what I find interesting and worth teaching students. Yes, it is okay to see things on your own, but it is more impacting when someone else shows it to you. I would encourage students to develop their presentation skills and show mastery of the information that they show. I don't pretend to have them all present like Hans Rosling and do crazy things on stage, but his approach to talking about the way the bubbles (countries) move, is definitely accompanied by an underlying quantity of information that enriches his speeches. Many times events in history or geographical disasters have affected the population of certain parts of the world. Using a tool like this provides an excellent way to challenge students’ creativity and resourcefulness in attaining greater knowledge. There are many ways in which students and teachers can take advantage of relating cross-curricular material in project based activities and presentations.
The only thing that we need to do now is provide Internet access to those millions of children around the world who are unable to use this wonderful program. Not just that but also provide schools with projectors and screens to generate a greater impact on the eyes of people. At least one set of complete multimedia equipment per school for those schools in developing countries that may afford the technology. Once again we see more empowerment of the Internet that directly benefits those who can afford to be connected to it. Let’s hope things change soon and more people are given the chance to enjoy the bouncing bubbles and learn to make unforgettable presentations.
2 comments:
I think Miguel has the ability to provide a very special perspective with his take on this tool. As he describes the information he sought after in GapMinder, it became apparent to me what this tool can really accomplish. Miguel was comparing Peru to the United States, which are two variables familiar to him, but became familiar over time. He knows the two countries, and can compare and contrast them well. He was still drawn to see what statistical facts relayed to him. This tool provides the user the ability to quickly acquire much of what Miguel knows and a whole lot more, without having to experience it first hand. This can often be helpful for people to get experience with something that may be quite foreign to them and as Miguel put it, "promote a fact based world view".
I agree with your assessment concerning how Gapminder is a great tool for stimulating higher order thinking and also with what I understood as a caveat about the need to understand the meaning of the data actually being shown on the axes. Miguel, you also highlighted the ways that Gapminder can get students interested in doing their own presentations, as they see the “pretty” ways that Gapminder lays out data. You reminded me also that there are still many parts of the world where Internet access cannot be assumed as it often is here in the US. Gapminder, in its present form at least, would not be available here. As in all of your blogs, I also always appreciate your real world and also international perspective on the use of these tools.
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