This is a session of Topic 2: Statistics education at school level

Using technology at school level to enhance statistical understanding

Organizer

• Maria Meletiou-Mavrotheris (Cyprus) : Session chair

Abstract

Advances of technology have transformed both the content and the pedagogy of statistics. They have provided new tools and opportunities for the development of early statistical reasoning by significantly increasing the range and sophistication of possible classroom activities. Effective integration of technology into the school curriculum can radically change statistics instruction by giving students early access to advanced statistical topics and ideas through the removal of computational barriers to authentic inquiry. It can lead to a shift of focus from teaching statistical methods and procedures in isolation, towards more holistic, process-oriented approaches that encourage statistical inquiry and data modeling. Statistics can be presented as an investigative, problem-solving process that involves formulating questions, collecting data, analyzing data, and drawing data-based conclusions and inferences (Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistical Education (GAISE) Report, 2005).

This session will provide a forum for discussing the role of emerging technologies as learning and teaching tools in statistics education at the school level. It will explore productive ways of integrating the latest available technological tools and resources into statistics teaching, in order to enhance students’ engagement, collaboration, and learning. Concrete examples of effective uses of a variety of modern ICT tools – such as educational software, digital games, computer simulations and animations, tablets and other mobile devices, web 2.0 communication tools, etc. – in the statistics classroom will be presented and discussed.

Papers