In the contemporary world
information in often presented graphically in text books, on computer software,
on video or television programmes and in the advertising industry.
The Special Needs person
will need to become familiar with this means of information- production
and become skilled in reading same accurately.
T.V. New and information
shows often display surveyed data/information on charts or graphs.
E.g. Growth in employment/unemployment:
Rep. Ireland 1990 -
2000
Religious practice in
Rep Ireland 19999
Much information appears
as Pie chart, Bar chart, Graphs etc...for instant ‘reading’.
In-school surveys based
perhaps on favourite items, foods, teams etc..and produced in these forms,
will give the students experience in understanding such presentations.
Teacher must seek convenient
ways of producing such data.
Many packages, such as
Ms Office or Lotus will allow for data to be produced in
chart form.
There are also simple stand
alone programmes, such as ‘GPLOT’ which allow even the junior student
to produce impressive and clear charts. The information can be shown in
Pie, Bar, Line or dot
charts ,
switching from one to the other at the click of a button in glorious colour.
LESSON
To produce a selection of Charts, displaying information on aspects of lives of the students
Gathering information.
Students should be allowed
to decide what they want to display, i.e. Information of which topic of
interest.
Topics might include their
favourites among some of following;
bands, sports, colours,
meals, cars, school subjects, T.V. Shows
Radio Stations, comics
or magazines, etc.....
The tasks then are to do the foot work, collect data from the group or from the whole school. A Questionnaire must be devised, with teacher’s help and the data brought together.
Open the GPLOT computer
programme.
On the left hand side of
the screen you will see where the information is to be entered.