← Years 5–6 Data & Information

Data and information

Raw facts and values, like names or scores. When data is organised so it has meaning, it becomes information, like a table showing each class's average score.

Part of: 5-6 Digital Technologies Vic Curric - Data, Information and Privacy — Module 1, VCE Applied Computing - U1O1 - Data analysis — Module 1, VCE Data Analytics - U3O2 - Analysis and Design — Module 1, 7-8 Digital Technologies: Representing data with binary — Module 1, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 7–8 — Acquiring and Storing Data — Module 1, ACARA Digital Technologies Years 9–10 — Acquiring and Validating Data — Module 7, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 1, QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data and Programming Techniques — Module 1, WA Computer Science ATAR Year 11 — Data Management — Module 1

Understanding Data and information in Years 5–6 Data & Information

What it does: These are just numbers. Nobody knows who they belong to or what they measure, so they are data and not yet information. Raw data is a set of facts or values with no organisation. A graph has been organised so it has meaning, so it is information. Data is the raw material. On its own, a list like 12, 15, 9 does not tell us much. When data is sorted, labelled or summarised, it becomes information that people can understand and use.

Common mistakes: len() only counts how many scores there are. To add the raw scores together you need sum(scores). The line should be total = sum(scores). min() finds the lowest mark, but the program is meant to show the top mark. It should be best = max(marks).

Class: _____________________ · Name: _____________________ · Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 1–10) and word search (Modules 1–20).

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Each concept is reinforced from every angle — learned, then applied, then tested.

Learning

Duo

Which one is an example of raw data?

The numbers 12, 15, 9, 14A graph showing which class read the most books

Matches

"Anna, 9, 5B, 12, Ben, 7" is information because it has lots of facts

↓

A jumbled list of facts is still only data. Having more facts does not make it information.

Applying

Meanings

Term

data

Meaning

Raw facts and values, like names or scores. When data is organised so it has meaning, it becomes information, like a table showing each class's average score.

Practice

data <- 12, 9, 15, 11

Testing

Gaps

= ["Mia", 9, "Sam", 7]

Check Answer

Spots

1scores = [8, 6, 9, 7]

2total = len(scores)

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is an example of raw data?

A. The numbers 12, 15, 9, 14 ✓

B. A graph showing which class read the most books

Raw data is a set of facts or values with no organisation. A graph has been organised so it has meaning, so it is information.

2. Which one is information?

A. A list of scores typed in a random order

B. A table showing each class's average spelling score ✓

Information is data that has been organised so it has meaning. A table of averages tells us something useful.

3. What is data?

A. Raw facts and values, like names or scores ✓

B. A finished report that explains what the facts mean

Data is the raw facts and values. A finished report is information because the facts have been organised.

4. Your teacher collects the lunch orders: pizza, salad, pizza, sandwich, pizza. What is this list?

A. Information

B. Data ✓

The list is raw facts that have not been organised yet, so it is data.

5. Your teacher counts the lunch orders and shows: pizza 3, salad 1, sandwich 1. What is this?

A. Information ✓

B. Data

The orders have been counted and organised, so we can see that pizza is the most popular. That gives the facts meaning.

Match the Pairs

data → Raw facts and values, like names, numbers or scores, that have not been organised yet

information → Data that has been organised so it has meaning and can be used to answer a question

Raw data from school life: a list of scores with no labels or context → 8, 10, 7, 9, 10

Information: the same scores organised into a table with headings and a summary → Class | Average Score 5A | 8.4 5B | 9.1

"Anna, 9, 5B, 12, Ben, 7" is information because it has lots of facts → A jumbled list of facts is still only data. Having more facts does not make it information.

Information is raw facts, and data is organised facts that have meaning → The two words are swapped. Data is the raw facts and information is the organised facts.

Key Term

data

Raw facts and values, like names or scores. When data is organised so it has meaning, it becomes information, like a table showing each class's average score.

Fill in the Blanks

1. data = ["Mia", 9, "Sam", 7] # raw facts like names and scores

Hint: Type the variable name for raw facts and values.

2. scores = [9, 7, 8] information = "Class average is 8"

Hint: Type the variable name for data that has been organised so it has meaning.

3. Raw facts: Mia, 9, Sam, 7 Organised into a table = information

Hint: Type the word for a way of organising raw facts into rows and columns.

4. Data that is organised has meaning

Hint: Type the word that describes what is done to data to make it useful.

5. Data + meaning = information

Hint: Type the word for organised data that makes sense.

Spot the Error

Question 1

A scores = [8, 6, 9, 7]

B total = len(scores)

C average = total / len(scores)

D print("Average:", average)

Line B — len() only counts how many scores there are. To add the raw scores together you need sum(scores). The line should be total = sum(scores).

Question 2

A names = ["Ava", "Ben", "Cho"]

B marks = [7, 9, 6]

C best = min(marks)

D print("Top mark:", best)

Line C — min() finds the lowest mark, but the program is meant to show the top mark. It should be best = max(marks).

Question 3

A scores = [5, 8, 7]

B total = sum(scores)

C average = total / len(scores)

D print("Average:", total)

Line D — The label says Average but the line prints the total. The information the reader wants is the average, so it should print average.

Question 4

A # Raw data: lunch orders

B orders = ["pie", "tart", "pie"

C pies = orders.count("pie")

D print("Pie orders:", pies)

Line B — The list of raw lunch orders is missing its closing square bracket ]. Every list that opens with [ must close with ].

Question 5

A # Information: books read

B books = [12, 15, 9, 14]

C average = sum(books) / len(books)

D print("Average books:", average)

Line A — A list of numbers that has not been organised is raw data, not information. The comment should say Raw data. The average calculated later is the information.

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