This paper is from Session 2B: Middle school statistics education: ages 8 - 13

which comes under Topic 2: Statistics education at school level

Student perspectives on being introduced to using Tinkerplots for investigations

Presenter

• Tim Burgess (Massey University, New Zealand)

Abstract

This paper reports on one aspect of the implementation of Tinkerplots into six primary school classrooms. Students’ perspectives are explored regarding their use of the software and their learning of statistics. These perspectives are compared with the “processes” and “products” of their statistics investigations, as evidenced by samples of Tinkerplots’ files, and video screen shots that captured the sequence of their computer-based work. The examples confirm some of the claims that students made about the ease of becoming acquainted with and using the software, and the ways in which the software helped them think more about the statistics. However there are also some implications for teachers with regard to using such software to enhance the teaching and learning of statistics.