Segment 3.  Students get data from E-STAT: summary

Students have met Dr. Data, chosen a topic, searched 'The Daily' for their topic 'cars', sorted 'The Daily' results in order of the most recent, and are now ready to proceed.

The students choose one of the articles listed in their 'Daily' results search.

Jenn and Arun click to open the article and quickly read it.

The students click on the CANSIM table number in 'The Daily' article to get the data. A screen appears that mentions a charge of $3.00 must be paid to proceed.

The two students discuss that they do not wish to pay for data.

Dr. Data appears and tells the students that they never have to pay for data for their projects or homework if they go to E-STAT.

The students are directed to copy the CANSIM table number from 'The Daily' article.

To get to E-STAT from the Statistics Canada homepage, Dr. Data tells the students to scroll the left hand menu and click Learning resources.

Once the students arrive at the Learning resources page, Dr. Data directs them to click on E-STAT from the right side coloured boxes.

On the E-STAT page, the students are directed to accept the license and enter. When students are using a computer at school, they will automatically enter. At home, students require a User ID and Password, which they must get from their teacher or by following the instructions under 'access E-STAT from home'.

Dr. Data uses his User ID and Password to show the students how to enter E-STAT.

Once in E-STAT, the students are instructed to choose 'Search CANSIM' from the left frame.

In 'Search CANSIM', Dr. Data tells the students to enter the CANSIM table number that they have copied from 'The Daily' article.

Students must choose data requirements, at least one item from each list as presented.

Dr. Data informs Jenn and Arun that they should select 'Retrieve as a Table' if they require only a few years of data.

They should select 'Retrieve as individual Time Series' if they want many years of data.

Arun retrieves almost 50 years of data and selects 'Retrieve as individual Time Series'.

Dr. Data tells the students to choose Table or Graph as an output.

Arun wants a graph.

Dr. Data then guides the students to click the 'Retrieve now' button.

Dr. Data shows the students that if they want to change the graph type, to edit the title or to overlay a grid on their graph that they simply click the 'Modify Graphic' button.

To copy the graph, Dr. Data directs the students to right click and then paste to their report.

Jenn and Arun are pleasantly surprised at how simple it is to produce a graph for their data project.