ERIC Number: ED505037
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2008-Dec
Pages: 66
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
A Compass for Understanding and Using American Community Survey Data: What High School Teachers Need to Know
US Department of Commerce
This handbook was developed for high school teachers looking for new sources of timely information and ways to make courses more engaging and relevant to students. The American Community Survey (ACS) provides a wide online array of social, economic, and demographic information about the nation, states, and local communities. These data can be used to teach concepts and skills, such as statistical literacy, and content areas, including social studies, geography, and mathematics. The ACS is updated annually, providing fresh, timely data for students each year. The handbook begins with a brief overview of the ACS: what it is, how it came about, and why it is important to high school teachers and students. Types of information and geographic areas covered by the ACS are described and explained to assist in understanding and correctly interpreting ACS data. Online access and examples that illustrate how you can incorporate ACS data into your activities or lesson plans to address a variety of social studies, geography, and mathematics standards. Eight technical appendixes are provided that discuss advanced applications and issues with the ACS: (1) Understanding and Using Single-Year and Multiyear Estimates; (2) Differences Between ACS and Decennial Census Sample Data; (3) Measures of Sampling Error; (4) Making Comparisons; (5) Using Dollar-Denominated Data; (6) Measures of Nonsampling Error; (7) Implications of Population Controls on ACS Estimates; and (8) Other ACS Resources. A glossary is included. (Contains 19 footnotes, 24 figures and 10 tables.)
Descriptors: Community Surveys, Secondary School Teachers, Social Studies, Statistical Data, Statistical Surveys, Geographic Distribution, Data Interpretation, Mathematics Curriculum, Statistics, Teaching Guides, Learning Modules, Human Geography, Pedagogical Content Knowledge
US Department of Commerce. 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230. Tel: 202-482-2000; Web site: http://www.commerce.gov
Publication Type: Guides - Non-Classroom
Education Level: Adult Education; High Schools
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Department of Commerce, Washington, DC.; Bureau of the Census (DOC), Washington, DC. Economics and Statistics Administration.
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A