Using big data

Students analyse and interpret actual solar panel data from our Science and Engineering Centre's solar panel.

Solar helicopters

Students use solar helicopters to investigate how solar panels work and sunlight is converted to electricity.

Tour the Science and Engineering Centre

Through a tour of the building, students will learn more about the centre's 5 star Green Design Certification and how the three different arrangements of solar panels power the building.

Workshop overview

Year level 7-8
Capacity 16-32 students. If you want to bring more students, email accelerators@qut.edu.au
When School days: Monday-Friday
Duration Half day
Where QUT Gardens Point, Science and Engineering Centre
Cost

Free (Late cancellation fees apply. Please refer to Terms and Conditions.)

Workshop details

Students are given a tour of QUT’s 5 star Green Star rated Science and Engineering Centre, with an emphasis on the various arrays of solar panels and their efficiency. They will learn how photovoltaic cells convert the sun’s energy to electricity, and use real solar cells to investigate factors which affect this, such as tilt and shading.

Students are then introduced to big data and given selected data samples from the SEC solar panels, which they investigate using Excel graphing to make comparisons, and discuss the pros and cons of the various arrays

Topics covered in this workshop:

  • mathematics
  • data analysis
  • engineering
  • urban planning
  • environmental engineering.

Book this workshop

You can request a booking for one of these options:

You can also add a 30-minute interactive experience at The Cube to your visit.

All bookings are subject to availability of university spaces and presenters

Book workshops

Curriculum links

Year 7

Mathematics

  • Investigate, interpret and analyse graphs from authentic data (ACMNA180)
  • Identify and investigate issues involving numerical data collected from primary and secondary sources (ACMSP169)
  • Describe and interpret data displays using median, mean and range (ACMSP172)

Science

  • Some of Earth’s resources are renewable, including water that cycles through the environment, but others are non-renewable (ACSSU116)
  • Collaboratively and individually plan and conduct a range of investigation types, including fieldwork and experiments, ensuring safety and ethical guidelines are followed (ACSIS125)
  • Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys and models to represent and analyse patterns or relationships in data using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS129)
  • Reflect on scientific investigations including evaluating the quality of the data collected, and identifying improvements (ACSIS131)

Year 8

Mathematics

  • Investigate techniques for collecting data, including census, sampling and observation (ACMSP284)
  • Explore the practicalities and implications of obtaining data through sampling using a variety of investigative processes (ACMSP206)
  • Investigate the effect of individual data values, including outliers, on the mean and median (ACMSP207)

Science

  • Construct and use a range of representations, including graphs, keys and models to represent and analyse patterns or relationships in data using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS144)
  • Use scientific knowledge and findings from investigations to evaluate claims based on evidence (ACSIS234)
  • Communicate ideas, findings and evidence based solutions to problems using scientific language, and representations, using digital technologies as appropriate (ACSIS148)

Year 9

Mathematics

  • Identify everyday questions and issues involving at least one numerical and at least one categorical variable, and collect data directly and from secondary sources (ACMSP228)
  • Compare data displays using mean, median and range to describe and interpret numerical data sets in terms of location (centre) and spread (ACMSP283)

Science

  • Formulate questions or hypotheses that can be investigated scientifically (ACSIS164)
  • Analyse patterns and trends in data, including describing relationships between variables and identifying inconsistencies (ACSIS169)