New Page: Stats Things Loved

I have now included a page dedicated to some of my favorite resources for AP Statistics and teaching statistics. These are websites, textbooks, videos, course material, and generally fun statistics-related things that I love.

Now available at: Stats Things Loved

Have any suggestions or comments? Please feel free to contact me.

Assessment Twists

In my classroom, I use a variety of nontraditional mechanisms to assess my students. Some of the assessments have some interesting benefits, including virtually wiping out student cheating... by letting them cheat.

Randomization Tests: Using Technology to Guide Inferential Thinking

In my AP Statistics classes, I have been using simulations as a means to teach various topics in the curriculum. For the past year or so, I've introduced the use of StatKey to do randomization tests.

Using Data in the Science Classroom

Last December, one of my Math for America colleagues, science teacher Liz Whelan, gave a talk about how her students use real-time data to investigate research questions about local water quality.

Lost in Translation, the Statistics Edition

If you speak multiple languages, then you're very much aware of words that easily get lost in translation. If you speak "Statistics," this happens just the same. Students tell me that one of the hardest things about learning Statistics is the vocabulary, learning and using the terminology correctly. Being a Statistics teacher has made me increasingly aware of certain statistical vocabulary that students, and people in general, use that often don't mean exactly what they think they mean.

Here are five statistical words and concepts that I think can sometimes get lost in translation:

Ebola Math

Like many others, I've been intently following the recent news stories about Ebola: the outbreak in West Africa, the cases in the U.S., as well as the ongoing reports about the research in the scientific community regarding treatment and a future vaccine. This media attention provides teachers a unique opportunity to discuss relevant course content with a current-event context. Students, no doubt, will be interested in learning about it from an academic perspective. The topic lends itself nicely to many approachable topics in high school math, statistics, biology, health, and social studies classes. It also can be a great way to introduce students to some basics of epidemiology, virology, medical ethics, and biostatistics.

Here are some great resources available for teachers and students who wish to use Ebola and infectious diseases as a context for learning.

The Wandering Point, Updated

One of my favorite activities from the Stats: Modeling the World teaching materials is "The Wandering Point" class activity to look at the influence of points on correlation and linear regression. My students always get a lot of out it and I think it lends itself to a high level of student engagement. I have since adapted* this activity to incorporate the new regression function of Desmos as well as some modifications to enhance student understanding.