Read the scenario below and answer the following questions. Remember to provide detailed responses. Note: Look at the data carefully. You may have to do some calculations!

You teach science to a class of 20 sixth-grade students and at the end of a unit on ecological interactions, you give a 100-point multiple-choice test. The test covers four areas: 1) how matter moves in food chains, 2) interpreting food webs, 3) using food chains to predict changes in populations, and 4) classifying symbiotic relationships. Here is the list of scores:

Student	Total score (% correct)
Sam	96
Kayti	72
Jaime	92
Noah	68
Rashmi	92
Dela	68
Sofia	100
Suhaila	88
Tyler	68
Zoe	84
Mark	68
Victor	96
Eugenia	60
Mickey	72
Candace	84
Willow	68
Kirk	76
Chantal	68
Anna	100
Owen	92
Class Mean	80.6

You know that students from this school have had trouble with test items on ecological interactions on the state test in previous years, and you're wondering whether you need to do more teaching in the four areas [1) how matter moves in food chains, 2) interpreting food webs, 3) using food chains to predict changes in populations, and 4) classifying symbiotic relationships] or can move on to the next topic on 'Conservation'.

You take these scores to a few of your colleagues and ask them to take a look. You explain that you designed the test such that if a student gets a score of 80% or better, you are really quite confident that he or she understands the concepts. When a student's score is lower than that, you feel there is something they still don't understand.

One of your colleagues, James, points out that the mean (or average) for these scores is 80.6. He says, "Hey! The mean score is greater than 80%. Your students did well on the test. You've done your job. I say you move on to the next topic. There're lots more science topics to cover!"

Questions:

1. Do you agree with James? Explain why or why not.

1. What other descriptive statistical data would you need to have apart from the class mean? Why would that help you make a more well-informed decision of whether to move forward or re-teach some areas?

1. After reviewing the chapters on descriptive statistics, what are TWO important insights you have gained that will help you in your own professional practice dealing with data?