This paper is from Session 2B: Engaging young learners in using models and modelling in data investigations (Modelling Part 2)
which comes under Topic 2: Statistics education at the school level
Paper 2B1 (Thursday 12th, 14:00-15:30)
Supporting young students emerging statistical understandings of centre through modelling
Presenter
- Jill Fielding-Wells (Learning Sciences Institute of Australia, Australia)
Co-author
- Judith Hillman (Education Queensland, Australia)
Abstract
‘Centre’ is a key conceptual understanding that students require to think and reason statistically. In this study, a class of young students (aged 9-10) who had predominantly procedural experience with statistics, was posed a complex problem regarding the best design for a catapult aeroplane. The context established an opportunity for students to engage authentically with data modelling. Analysis of lesson videotape and work samples provided insight into students’ developing understandings as they worked with dot plots and hat plots to focus on the notion of ‘middle’. Insights into students’ thinking and reasoning are discussed as the students engage in constructing, interpreting and predicting from statistical models. This research has implications for statistics curriculum in the early formal years.