← QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2

Presenting data to the user

Showing data to users as a table, list, form, report or chart, chosen to suit the data and the user's task, and showing only the data they need.

Part of: QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2 — Data-Driven Problems and Solution Requirements — Module 71

Understanding Presenting data to the user in QCE Digital Solutions Unit 2

What it does: A line chart over days shows the trend in temperature faster than a table of numbers would. A report layout has a title, ordered rows and a summary, which suits a user who needs an overview. Tables suit tasks where users need to look up exact values. Charts are better for showing trends or comparisons at a glance. Forms are used to collect data. Each field gets a clear label and an input control. A chart is for showing data, not for entering it. Choose a presentation that suits the user's task and show only the data they need. Too much data hides the key message.

Common mistakes: A line chart suits a trend over time, so the condition should be 'trend'. A lookup task needs exact values, which a table shows better, so it belongs in the else branch. The column headings are Name, Maths and English, but the loop prints only an average. Each row must match the headings, so it should print each student's row of marks.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 2–115) and word search (Modules 2–139).

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Learning
Duo
A student wants to compare the exact marks of 8 classmates in three subjects. Which presentation suits this task best?
A pie chart, because it always shows exact marks bestA table, because exact values can be read across rows and columns
Matches
SELECT * FROM students; -- parent only needs name and points
↓
Selects every column, so the user sees extra data they do not need, including unrelated fields
Applying
Meanings
Term
data presentation
Meaning
Showing data to users as a table, list, form, report or chart, chosen to suit the data and the user's task, and showing only the data they need.
Practice
SELECT firstName, points
Testing
Gaps
SELECT , points FROM students;
Check Answer
Spots
1input task
2if task = 'lookup' then

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Quick Questions

1. A student wants to compare the exact marks of 8 classmates in three subjects. Which presentation suits this task best?
A. A table, because exact values can be read across rows and columns ✓
B. A pie chart, because it always shows exact marks best
Tables suit tasks where users need to look up exact values. Charts are better for showing trends or comparisons at a glance.
2. A manager wants to see at a glance how monthly sales changed over a year. Which presentation suits this task best?
A. A long list of sales figures in plain text
B. A line chart showing sales for each month ✓
A chart makes a trend over time easy to see. A list makes the user work out the pattern themselves.
3. A user is entering a new customer's name, phone number and address. Which presentation suits this task best?
A. A bar chart with a bar for each field
B. A form with a labelled input control for each field ✓
Forms are used to collect data. Each field gets a clear label and an input control. A chart is for showing data, not for entering it.
4. Which statement about showing only the data a user needs is correct?
A. A canteen worker needs to see the item, quantity and pickup time, not the student's home address ✓
B. A canteen worker should see every field stored about the student so nothing is missed
Showing only the data needed for the task keeps the screen clear. It also protects personal data that the user has no reason to see.
5. Which report layout is better for a term summary sent to parents?
A. A clear title, grouped sections with headings, and a summary at the top ✓
B. All the raw data dumped in one block with no headings
A good report layout uses a title, headings and grouping so readers can find the information quickly.

Match the Pairs

SELECT name, price FROM products; → Shows only the two columns the user needs, rather than every column in the table
<table><tr><th>Day</th><th>Rain</th></tr></table> → Presents data as a table with column headings so exact values are easy to look up
A chart suits a task where the user wants to see a trend or compare values at a glance → display line chart of Max by Day
A report groups and orders selected data under headings and totals so it can be read and acted on → print report: heading, rows sorted by house, total points
SELECT * FROM students; -- parent only needs name and points → Selects every column, so the user sees extra data they do not need, including unrelated fields
display pie chart of 40 exact test marks to teacher → A chart is a poor choice when the user needs to read exact values for many items; a table suits this task better

Key Term

data presentation
Showing data to users as a table, list, form, report or chart, chosen to suit the data and the user's task, and showing only the data they need.

Fill in the Blanks

1. SELECT firstName, points FROM students;
Hint: Type the column that holds the student's given name, so only needed data is shown.
2. SELECT name, stock FROM products WHERE stock = 0;
Hint: Type the keyword that filters rows so the report shows only the items needed.
3. SELECT name, price FROM products ORDER BY price DESC;
Hint: Type the keyword that sorts the report with the highest value first.
4. <table> <tr><th>Name</th><th>Points</th></tr> </table>
Hint: Type the HTML tag that presents data as rows and columns.
5. if task is "show trend over time" then display chart end if
Hint: Type the presentation type that best shows a trend over time.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A input task
B if task = 'lookup' then
C show line chart of sales
D else
E show table of sales
Line B — A line chart suits a trend over time, so the condition should be 'trend'. A lookup task needs exact values, which a table shows better, so it belongs in the else branch.
Question 2
A print 'Term Report'
B print 'Name Maths English'
C for each s print s.average
D print 'Class average: ', avg
Line C — The column headings are Name, Maths and English, but the loop prints only an average. Each row must match the headings, so it should print each student's row of marks.
Question 3
A houses ← ['Red','Blue']
B input task
C show pie chart of houses
Line C — The data is just a few names with no numbers to compare. A simple list is the right way to present it, so line 3 should show a list, not a pie chart.
Question 4
A input task
B if task = 'add' then
C show form with blank fields
D else if task = 'add' then
E show table of records
Line D — The second condition repeats 'add', so the table can never be shown. It should be 'browse', because a table suits viewing many records.
Question 5
A task ← 'compare'
B if task = 'compare' then
C show form of sales
D else
E show table of sales
Line C — A form is used to enter data, not to display it. Comparing sales across categories is best shown with a bar chart.

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