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Teachers: How to participate
You can download and print this document in the following formats:
It's very easy to participate in the Census at School project:
Part 1 – Registration
Part 2 – Preparation
Part 3 – Completing the survey
Please read the following instructions before you get started and keep a copy handy.
*Need help?
For assistance with registration, passwords, accessing data results or
other technical concerns, contact Statistics Canada's Electronic Products
Helpline:
1-800-949-9491 Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time)
or e-mail: sos@statcan.gc.ca
Part 1 - Registration
1. Inform your principal
Ask your principal to read the letter to the principal. (available under Teachers in the side-bar.) You may wish to discuss with your principal whether to send a letter about the project to the students' parents or caregivers. A sample letter to parents can also be downloaded.
2. Register yourself
To register, go to the Teachers button on the sidebar and select Registration: first time users and type the first three characters of your school's postal code. Then select your school and provide your name and contact information. We will send your teacher password immediately by e-mail. Check your inbox to retrieve your teacher password and keep it in a safe place. It's your key to entering the system to register classes and access survey results.
3. Register your class(es)
Next, go back to Teachers, and Sign in. Under "Registered users", enter your e-mail address and new teacher password. Register each participating class by entering the grade level and number of students and creating a class name and a class password. Once submitted, this information will appear on the screen under "Registered class profiles". The system will automatically generate a class identification (ID) number. Take note of the class ID and the class password as you will need to give them to your students so they can access the online questionnaire. You may wish to keep this information with your teacher password
Part 2 - Preparation
4. Arrange Internet access for students
Each student will need approximately 15 minutes of Internet access time to complete the online questionnaire. Your web browser must have JavaScript enabled. If you have limited computer access, consider having all your students complete a print version of the survey questions, then select a small group to input the class responses online.
5. Review survey questions and take measurements
Review the survey questions and teacher's notes, (under Survey questions on the side-bar.) The students will need to collect and record measurements of their height, length of right foot, wrist circumference and hand span before completing the survey. The teacher's notes explain how to take these measurements and define the vocabulary of certain questions. Students will need to know the first three characters of their home postal code.
6. Explain the census
Explain to your students the purpose of the survey and how Canada's national census is taken every five years. You may also wish to discuss the difference between a census and other methods of data collection. Click here to find out more about the Canadian census. (or look under About us on the side-bar.)
7. Discuss Internet safety
As a class, discuss Internet safety rules about giving personal information online. Refer to your own school's Internet use policy.
The Media Awareness Network website offers many resources at http://www.media-awareness.ca, including the following:
- School policies on acceptable use of the Internet
- Online Rules: basic guidelines if your school does not yet have a policy
Discuss website privacy policies and review the Privacy statement found on this site (under Privacy on the side-bar.)
Part 3 - Completing the survey
8. Have students fill in the survey
After you have prepared the class, students are ready to use the computers.
Give the students their class ID and class password. Direct them to the Students button on the sidebar to access the online questionnaire. Students should have no difficulty understanding the questions, which have all been previously field-tested with young people. Help any students who require assistance or clarification as they fill in the survey.
9. Monitor progress and access results
Monitor class progress online as students are submitting their responses. Go to Teachers, then Sign in and enter your teacher password under Registered users. Click on Results to see how many students have already submitted responses. Once all students have completed the survey, please change the class password so that no more data can be added.
Class results can be viewed online or downloaded in Microsoft Excel format or in CSV (comma-separated values) format. CSV format can be imported into a spreadsheet program such as Quattro Pro.
10. Analyse your data!
Use your class data to teach concepts such as tables, graphs and spreadsheets, fractions and percentages, statistics and probability. Check out ideas for class activities under Learning activities on the side-bar.
