Teaching of statistics at the secondary level An interdisciplinary approach

This paper examines the educational desirability of introducing the teaching of statistics at the secondary level. A syllabus is proposed for a course in statistics at the secondary level and brief comments are given on each topic, indicating how they may be presented to students.     

E-learning in secondary–tertiary transition in mathematics: for what purpose?

Mathematics is a challenging subject for many science freshmen, and failing mathematics exams is a major factor in university dropout rates. Many factors, including metacognitive, affective and linguistic ones, play a role in students?? difficulties in mathematics. Starting from this perspective, we conducted a theoretical exploration of the potential of online environments in helping students counteract the mathematical difficulties they face in the transition from secondary school to university. Although this secondary?Ctertiary transition and the use of technology are both widely researched issues in mathematics education, the potential of technology in helping students in the ??rite of passage?? to tertiary education has not yet been researched. This paper reports on the developed theoretical framework and on the preliminary findings from the implementation of an e-learning course that we designed with the aim of supporting students in the critical phase of transition from secondary school to university.     

数学建模课内容和教学方法的探讨

拟就以下内容进行了探讨 .(i)该课程究竟应该讲什么内容、怎样讲 ,才能使学生在较短的时间内 ,掌握数学建模的基本知识和基本方法 ;(ii)该课程怎样与数学实验更好地结合起来 ,以培养学生的动手能力 ;(iii)该课程应采用什么样的教学手段和教学方法 ,才能加大课堂信息量 ,加强直观性和趣味性等 .我们的解决方法是 :(i)以介绍建立数学模型为主 ,按数学知识内容的不同来选取数学模型的典型案例 ,通过案例介绍 ,使学生学会怎样建立模型 .(ii)适当介绍数学软件包 ,让学生掌握运用软件包来求解模型能力 .(iii)做大作业 ,教员给出题目 ,学生自己收集资料、讨论、上机求解 ,最后写出报告 .(iv)开展多媒体教学 ,对主要的教学内容进行模块化教学 ,将建模分成 1 4个专题 ,做成 1 4个多媒体课件     

Problems and Possibilities with Teaching Introductory Statistics to Social Scientists

As undergraduates, many social scientists take only one introductory course in statistics, and this paper concentrates mainly on the various issues involved in teaching such a course. Among the topics discussed are: the aims of the course; the problem of students’ varying mathematical backgrounds and abilities, and in particular the very low level of mathematics of a significant number of them; the question of a common course for all social sciences, and the differing needs of the various subjects; who should teach introductory statistics; the problem of developing students’ motivation to study statistics; the use of practical work; the possibilities of the computer; the utility of programmed texts and teaching machines. The intention of the paper is to provide a framework for the seminar by a broad review of the topics, a number of which are discussed in detail in subsequent sessions.     

Faces of mathematical modeling

In this paper I will discuss and exemplify my perspectives on how to teach mathematical modeling, as well as discuss quite different faces of mathematical modeling. The field of mathematical modeling is so enormous and vastly outspread and just not possible to comprehend in one single paper; or in one single book, or even in one single book shelf. Nevertheless, I have found that the more I can illuminate some of the various interpretations and perceptions of mathematical modeling which exists in the world around us when introducing and starting a course in mathematical modeling, the more benefit I will have during the course when discussing the need and purpose of mathematical modeling with the students. The fact that only some models fit within the practical teaching and assessing of a course in mathematical modeling, does not exclude the importance to illustrate that the world of today cannot go on without mathematical modeling. Students are nevertheless much more charmed with some models of reality than others.     

深入开展数学建模活动，培养学生的综合应用素质

数学建模时大学生综合应用素质培养的一种有效途径。本文首先分析数学建模在大学生实践创新能力和综合应用素质培养中的作用,在此基础上从数学建模的数学理念更新、数学模式和教学内容设计,教学方法运用等多个方面,研究了以培养学生综合应用素质为牵引的多焊接、全方位的数学建模教学模式,提出了一些创新性的实践做法,为教学建模数学与组织竞赛活动的开展提供参考。     

Beyond statistical methods: teaching critical thinking to first-year university students

We discuss a major change in the way we teach our first-year statistics course. We have redesigned this course with emphasis on teaching critical thinking. We recognized that most of the students take the course for general knowledge and support of other majors, and very few are planning to major in statistics. We identified the essential aspects of a first-year statistics course, given this student mix, focusing on a simple question, ‘Given this is the last chance you have to teach statistics, what are the essential skills students need?’ We have moved from thinking about statistics skills needed for a statistician to skills needed to participate in today's society. We have changed the way we deliver the course with less emphasis on lectures and more on alternative resources including on-line tutorials, Excel, computer-based skills testing, web-based learning materials and smaller group activities such as study groups and example classes. Feedback from students shows that they are very receptive and enthusiastic.     

Attitudes and perceived usefulness of statistics among health sciences students

A questionnaire was completed at the cessation of semester 2 in November 1989 by 102 postgraduate and 58 undergraduate health sciences students studying introductory statistics units. The questionnaire measured; (i) the student's attitude towards statistics, (ii) the way in which they learned statistics, (iii) the student's intention to pursue further statistics training, and (iv) the perceived usefulness of statistics in their professions. It was found that the learning of statistics would be enhanced by smaller tutorial groups, and more exposure to computer printouts to assist in interpretation of results. An emphasis on the understanding of statistics presented in journal articles should be a priority. It was also apparent that the more computer and research experience the student had prior to commencing the course, the greater the likelihood of a positive attitude towards statistics. However, both undergraduate and postgraduate students indicated that they would not enrol in an advanced biostatistics course, but would rather consult a statistician when necessary. Suggestions for more effective statistical teaching for health sciences students are also discussed.     

What students value in effective mathematics learning: a ‘Third Wave Project’ research study

Considerations of how mathematics can be effectively taught and learnt may be cognitive, affective or sociocultural in approach. ??What students value in effective mathematics learning?? is a research study of the Third Wave Project, an international consortium of research teams adopting a sociocultural approach to investigate the harnessing of relevant values to optimise school mathematics teaching and learning. This paper seeks to contextualise the study, as part of the study examines what the high-achieving East Asian mathematics students value. The study is framed by knowledge relating to the relative cultural influence on effectiveness in mathematics learning, Alan Bishop??s values in mathematics education and the role of interactions in education, in particular David Tripp??s idea of critical incidents as reflecting professional judgement (and, thus, underlying values). Features of the innovative qualitative research design are also presented, which include the facilitation of photo-voice, the argument for an international collaborative team and focus group interviews for all values research, and a two-stage data analysis process aimed at clarifying both etic and emic perspectives.     

An applied statistics course for systematics and ecology PhD students

Statistics education is under review at all educational levels. Statistical concepts, as well as the use of statistical methods and techniques, can be taught in at least two contrasting ways. Specifically, (1) teaching can be theoretically and mathematically oriented, or (2) it can be less mathematically oriented being focused, instead, on application and the use of data to solve real-world problems. The second approach is growing in practice and new goals have recently emerged. At present, statistics courses stress probability concepts, data analysis, and the interpretation and communication of results. Understanding the process of statistical investigation is established as a way of improving mastery of statistical reasoning. In this context, a project-based approach allows the design and implementation of participating learning scenarios in order to understand the statistical methodology and, as a consequence, improve research. This approach points out that statistics is a rational methodology used to solve practical problems. The purpose of this paper is to present the design and results of an applied statistics course for PhD students in ecology and systematics using a project-based approach. Examples involving character coding, species classification, and the interpretation of geographical variation, which are the principal systematic analyses requiring statistical techniques, are presented using the results from student projects. In addition, an example from conservation ecology is presented. Results indicate that the students understood the concepts and applied the systematic and statistical techniques accurately using a data oriented approach.     

Examination of the dynamic software-supported learning environment in data analysis

The Fatih Project in Turkey has improved software in mathematics teaching such as data analysis software. As a result, the need to inquire into the efficiency of computer-supported learning environments has emerged. This study aims to examine the effect of dynamic data analysis software-supported learning environments on secondary school students’ achievement and attitude. The research method employs a quasi-experimental design with a pre-test, post-test control group. Basic topics related to data analysis were introduced through dynamic statistics software in the experimental group while the students were taught with the help of smart boards, course books and exercises in the control group. Data were collected with an achievement test, attitude scale and semi-structured interviews. Also, interviews were conducted with four students from the experimental group in order to get more detailed information from students. The data gained in the study were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The findings revealed that statistics teaching through statistics software is more efficient than the one with the traditional method on achievement and attitudes. In accordance with this result, it is suggested that computer-supported statistics software should be used in statistics teaching.     

Every rose has its thorn: secondary teachers’ reasoning about statistical models

Statistical modeling is a core component of statistical thinking and has been identified by several countries as a curricular goal for secondary education. However, many secondary teachers have minimal preparation for teaching this topic. The goal of this research study is to learn about teachers’ perceptions of the role statistical models play in statistical inference and how these perceived purposes affect their reasoning about statistical models and inference. Problem-solving interviews were conducted with four in-service teachers who had recently taught a modeling and simulation-based introductory statistics course. Teachers’ responses suggest they may not see modeling variation as the primary purpose of statistical modeling and instead substitute two other purposes: making a decision and replicating the data collection process. Suggestions for how to build on teachers’ transitional conceptions and refocus attention on modeling variation are discussed.     

Using an economics model for teaching linear algebra

We present an approach for teaching linear algebra using models. In particular, we are interested in analyzing the modeling process under an APOS perspective. We will present a short illustration of the analysis of an economics problem related to production in a set of industries. This problem elicits the use of the concepts of linear combination, linear independence, among other linear algebra concepts related to vector space. We describe cycles of students’ work on the problem, present an analysis of the learning trajectory with emphasis on the constructions they develop, and discuss the advantages of this approach in terms of students’ learning.     

研究式教学:初等代数研究教学模式引探

探索初等代数研究教学改革之路是适应时代发展,培养新型师范生的需要,是实现"教育以学生发展为本"新教育观的必由之路.在高师数学系开展研究式教学是一项十分有意义的实践,它是对传统教学模式的反思,对培养学生创新能力,启迪学生走上教育和科研之路具有方法论意义.研究式教学的基本模式有目标探究、过程探究和模型探究等,自由探究为其最高境界.     

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??In this paper, we propose a joint mean-variance-correlation modeling approach for longitudinal studies. By applying partial autocorrelations, we obtain an unconstrained parametrization for the correlation matrix that automatically guarantees its positive definiteness, and develop a regression approach to model the correlation matrix of the longitudinal measurements by exploiting the parametrization. The proposed modeling framework is parsimonious, interpretable, and flexible for analyzing longitudinal data. Real data example and simulation support the effectiveness of the proposed approach.     

Statistical literacy and sample survey results

Sample surveys are widely used in the social sciences and business. The news media almost daily quote from them, yet they are widely misused. Using students with prior managerial experience embarking on an MBA course, we show that common sample survey results are misunderstood even by those managers who have previously done a statistics course. In general, they fare no better than managers who have never studied statistics. There are implications for teaching, especially in business schools, as well as for consulting.     

Chance and probability: What do they mean to university engineering students?

The great interest aroused by the incorporation of Statistics and Probability into curricular projects has been accompanied by considerable evidence of significant difficulties in the meaningful learning and application of the concepts. These difficulties have been the subject of many studies, mostly concerning secondary school students. This study seeks to investigate the level of understanding of random phenomena, in a group of university students, on the second year of a Technical and Industrial Engineering Degree at the University of the Basque Country, in Spain. The students, who had all undertaken an introductory course in Probability Theory, were tested through both written questionnaires and one-to-one interviews, where they were presented with situations that demanded the ability to apply the knowledge they had learnt, at a high level, to a range of situations and to justify their reasoning. The results show that the vast majority of students had a poor understanding of random phenomena, applying alternative ideas to the ones taught on their course in Probability. The need to improve teaching strategies in Probability and Statistics, so that students can develop skills in constructing probabilistic models, is highlighted.     

Electronic Resources: The Ohio State University EESEE Project

Electronic resources aid in the teaching and learning of statistics by providing data that may be used interactively by teachers and students. By interacting with the data students are encouraged to discover knowledge and thereby gain a deeper understanding of statistical concepts. The Electronic Encyclopedia of Statistical Examples and Exercises (EESEE) is an electronic resource that includes over 80 'real-world' examples about the uses and abuses of statistics. These examples are drawn from published and printed media and the diverse range of subject-matter areas make it suitable for use in any statistics course.