Professional Reading: Teaching Statistics & Probability NCTM Yearbook, 1981

I have found that generating and analyzing statistical information is a great way for students to see how math does impact real life. They see and use fractions, exponents, percents, etc. in a meaningful context. This book, produced by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, has a wealth of interesting activities to use, as well as sound rationale and methodology for using the activities. The book mentions many reasons for using statistics and probability in the math classroom: meaningful applications exist at all levels; to help students acquire methods for dealing with uncertainty; to gain an understanding of statistical arguments with which we're bombarded; to help consumers distinguish sound uses of statistical procedures from unsound or deceptive ones; and activities are inherently interesting, exciting, and motivating for most students. One author suggested tracking a favorite baseball player throughout the season, and computing batting average daily. It would become quickly apparent that an extremely good or poor game early in the season has a powerful effect on the average. Shots or goals in hockey, or yards rushed in football could provide the same sort of enlightenment. Also, the predictive value of an average could be explored. Coin tosses that generate theoretic and experimental probability and Pascal's Triangle; games of chance; "fair" games; statistics gleaned from observations of everyday phenomena; and interesting ways to display and analyze results fill the book. The authors mention that to present the theory of an underlying abstract concept (especially in probability), first devise an experiment that will provide an experiential base for the abstraction; only then should you attempt to derive the mathematical and theoretic underpinnings. This is a great resource for both "generalists" and math teachers. I found it at the St. Scholastica "PLUS" Center.

-- Anonymous, April 11, 1999