This paper is from Session 2A: Learners’ first experiences of handling data — focusing on 7 to 13 year olds

which comes under Topic 2: Statistics education at the school level

Other papers under session 2A ... 2A1: National testing of data handling in years 3, 5 and 7 in Australia 2A3: Linking problems, conclusions and evidence: primary students’ early... 2A4: Engaging young children in informal statistical inference

(Monday 12th, 14:00-16:00)

Does context expertise make a difference when dealing with data?

Presenter

• Cynthia Langrall (Illinois State University, United States)

Abstract

The statistical literacy exhibited by students in two Year 6 classes was examined during an 8-day unit of instruction carried out under two conditions. For one class, data sets were designed to be specific in nature and related to the interests of many of the students. For the other class, data sets were generic in nature. Although students rarely engaged the data context, when they did, it influenced their informal inferential arguments and supported them in taking a more critical stance toward the data.

Other papers under session 2A ... 2A1: National testing of data handling in years 3, 5 and 7 in Australia 2A3: Linking problems, conclusions and evidence: primary students’ early... 2A4: Engaging young children in informal statistical inference