TimeWeb learning and teaching materials

The TimeWeb learning and teaching materials are very extensive and cover most essential data handling skills. There are explanations, illustrations, worksheets and a reference section with a full glossary and information on the way data is used in business and elsewhere. The learning and teaching materials also have extensive sample data from National Statistics.

Contents:

• The main sections
• Contents of each section
• Tours
• Navigation

The main sections

The materials are split into three main parts:

1. Digging - this section looks at all the skills needed when digging for data, in other words all the skills involved in finding data fit for purpose. The section is split into a series of sub-sections:
   • Meaning - getting to grips with data terminology
   • Sourcing - sampling methods
   • Selecting - choosing appropriate data
   • Verifying - checking the reliability of data
2. Crunching - this section looks at all the skills needed when processing and doing calculations on data, in other words all the skills involved in transforming data. The section is split into a series of sub-sections:
   • Processing - making sense of data
   • Analysing - how to handle time series data
   • Relating - making connections between data items
   • Experimenting - testing for significance
3. Buffing - this section looks at all the skills needed when presenting data as graphs or charts. It also covers the description of the data and what different data types mean. The section is split into a series of sub-sections:
   • Picturing - using charts and diagrams
   • Describing - how you refer to the data you've used
   • Lie Detecting - how to spot and avoid instances of distortion
   • Evaluating - assessing the value of data by seeing the 'big picture' underneath

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Contents of each section

Each of the three main sections of TimeWeb is further split into smaller component parts. For example, the 'digging' section is further split into the different skills required for digging data - namely:

• Meaning
• Selecting
• Sourcing
• Verifying

Within each of these sub-sections are the learning and teaching resources. These are of four different types:

1. Explanation - the explanation page looks at the core themes for that area of data handling and gives a descriptive overview. In many cases the explanation will give the necessary terms, definitions and formulae required for that data skill.
2. Illustration - the illustration page is closely related to the explanation page. The illustration section gives examples of the main skills identified in the explanation section. In many cases, this will be numerical or visual examples, but occasionally it may also be case studies based on topical examples or based on the TimeWeb data.
3. Worksheets - the worksheets page has a range of interactive questions based around the data skill in the relevant section. The worksheets have various elements to them. Most will have some interactive questions within them, but many will also have activities based around TimeWeb data or data contained in downloadable spreadsheets.
4. Review - the review section takes a final very brief look at what the section covered and what should have been learnt from working through the section. There is usually also a final activity as an overview of the section.

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Tours

Each of the main three main sections has a tour. The aim of the tour is to give a brief overview of the contents before working through them. The tours are generally in two parts. The first part gives a summary of the content - called the 'Key stopping-off points', while the second part allows you to 'plot your own course' through the section. This gives a summary of the worksheets available that you should consider looking at and working through.

The tours for each section can be accessed either by following the link to the section in the left-hand navigation bar, and then following the 'tour' link, or by following the links below:

• Digging tour
  • Plot your own course through digging
• Crunching tour
  • Plot your own course through crunching
• Buffing tour
  • Plot your own course through buffing

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Navigation

There are two navigation bars in TimeWeb. The left-hand navigation bar gives access to all the learning and teaching materials. Clicking on any of the three main sections will reveal the sub-sections and clicking on any one of those will give access to the learning and teaching materials for that data skill. There is aso a link on the left-hand side to the reference section that has the glossary, an Excel guide, a guide on how data is used in practice and a summary of some statisticians through history.

The top navigation bar, which is also visible on every page, has the search box, the help link and immediate access to the sitemap. However, perhaps the most important links on this bar are the links to the TimeWeb sample data from National Statistics, and also the main TimeWeb Explorer that gives access to the full OECD dataset held by MIMAS. However, please note that you will need to be studying at a UK-based Higher or Further Education college or university to be able to access this data.

Clicking on the TimeWeb logo in the top left-hand corner of every page will immediately link you back to the home page.

You can always see where in the site you are at any time by looking at the breadcrumb trail in the top navigation bar. Bear in mind that this is also a clickable trail, so if you want to move to another part of the section, you can often use this method.

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