Question about questions, SBAC edition. Graphs.

So, the SBAC is releasing questions so that we teachers can't complain that they've done all this work behind our backs. At least, they hope we don't.

But I digress.

I got a list of some released questions and started looking. My general rule is to make sure that the first thing on any handout is correct. I also have to assume that SBAC has access to a graphing calculator such as Graph 4.4 ... so why do they come out with the following?

The question they ask the students: "The graph of y = x² is shown on the grid. Drag the graph to show y = (x - 4)² + 2"

The question I have for them is, "Why didn't you graph it properly? It was probably more difficult to get it wrong than it would be to get it right. Did they use Microsoft Word? Just seems weird to me, like a circular arc and then two lines. I know it's picky, but sheesh.

I will point out that this is a great example of the over-reliance on gee-whizardry by SBAC ... everything has to be drag and drop, click and move, glitenbullshit. This could be done so many other ways, just as relevant and equally valid.

I'm curious mostly about the granularity of the placement. What is the tolerance? Can a student with a Chromebook and touchpad do this in a timely fashion?  Here's the "answer" ... note that it doesn't actually have a vertex at (4,2).

I think we'd better get a few extra mice for testing day.

Here's another. Drag the factors to make the equation ... I guess you drag (x-2) out twice. God, what a pain in the ass without a mouse. Graph looks wrong again. It's definitely a Bezier curve from MS Word.

Here's the real one for those who care:

Again, why not do it right?

Visuals are powerful when done right

Each desk represents one of the 857 students who drop out of high school in the United States every single hour, every single school day, according to the College Board, which arranged the display to underline its effort to urge presidential candidates to put education at the top of their to-do lists.

Visualization Types Chart is missing at least one type ...

There's a neat visulization of the various methods of visualizing data. Here is the interactive version, which includes little pop-up examples of each method as you mouseover them. The static graphic is below.  It's all very cool.  Except that they seem to be missing a very important one, or at least a very pertinent one.

Any guesses?

There's no entry for periodic table visualizations! Isn't that weird?

Anyway, visit the page for a good look at each of these.  Maybe save the page for students' reference.

Visualization of the Wealth in the US

Just found another visualization. Whatever side of this discussion you're on, you've got to admit that this is a really good way to make this point.

Visualization of the Oil Spill

They say a picture is worth a thousand words ..
http://www.ifitwasmyhome.com/

This one's a doozy.

(Though I do wish they'd named it
ifitweremyhome.com but that domain is parked at GoDaddy so it's probably a cybersquatter trying to sell to some realtor or something.)