Iterate From Data
Use evidence and design criteria to iterate from data.
- Criteria and constraints: Design work needs success targets and limits before testing.
- Evidence-based iteration: Changes should trace to data, feedback, or a failed criterion.
Prerequisites are inferred: pending teacher review.
Re-learn the skill with worked practice and clear examples.
Use a trial-results table to pick the change the DATA supports.
| Buzzer | Trial 1 (s) | Trial 2 (s) | Trial 3 (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small buzzer | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Large buzzer | 8 | 9 | 8 |
A team tests a small buzzer and a large buzzer; the target is under 10 seconds. Using the trial results, which change does the DATA justify?
Reviewed| Buzzer | Trial 1 (s) | Trial 2 (s) | Trial 3 (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small buzzer | 13 | 14 | 13 |
| Large buzzer | 8 | 9 | 8 |
- A.Keep the small buzzer, because it looks neater on the bottle cap
- B.Switch to the large buzzer, because a larger buzzer is always the better choice
- C.Switch to the large buzzer, because its trials of 8, 9, and 8 s beat 10 s
- D.Change the bottle color, because that might help people notice it
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: C. Switch to the large buzzer, because its trials of 8, 9, and 8 s beat 10 s
- Step 1: Read both rows: Small buzzer: 13, 14, 13 s. Large buzzer: 8, 9, 8 s.
- Step 2: Compare to the target: Only the large buzzer's trials are all under 10 s, so the data supports switching to it.
Why it's right: The large buzzer's measured times (8, 9, 8 s) all beat the 10-second target, so the data justifies switching to it.
- A: 'Looks neater' is not in the data, and the small buzzer missed the target.
- B: The right buzzer here is the large one, but the reason must be the measured times.
- D: Bottle color was never tested, so the data cannot support changing it.
Aligned to Biotechnology Research and Experiments · reading level ~grade 9
A version records alarm times of 11, 9, and 10 seconds. The target is an average under 10 seconds. Does this version pass?
Reviewed- A.No, the average is exactly 10 s, which is not under 10 s
- B.Yes, because two of the three trials came in at 10 s or faster
- C.No, because the average is 11 s, which is above the target
- D.Yes, the average is 10 s, which satisfies a target of under 10 s
Show the worked solution ▾
Answer: A. No, the average is exactly 10 s, which is not under 10 s
- Step 1: Add the trials: 11 + 9 + 10 = 30.
- Step 2: Divide by the count: 30 divided by 3 trials gives an average of 10 s.
- Step 3: Read the target wording: The target says under 10 s. Exactly 10 s is not under 10 s.
Why it's right: The three trials average exactly 10 s. A target of under 10 s is not met by a value that lands on 10 s.
- B: The target is set on the average, not on how many individual trials clear it.
- C: 11 s is the slowest single trial, not the average of the three.
- D: Under 10 s excludes 10 s itself, so landing on the line is a fail.
Aligned to Biotechnology Research and Experiments · reading level ~grade 9
- A student picks the version the trial data supports instead of guessing.
Fill these in as you work through the lesson.
- Trial (one measured run of the test):
- Target (the value you must meet):
- Data-backed change (a change the numbers support):
- Trade-off (balancing two targets at once):
Read every in the table, compare each value to the , then choose the change the supports.
- What does each trial measure?
- Which version meets the target?
- Does the change come from the data or a guess?
Given two buzzer rows (13/14/13 vs 8/9/8) and a 10 s target, pick the buzzer the data supports.