Setting the StageOpportunities and Challenges

Roxy Peck

Chris Franklin

MWM 2007 2

Consider the map of counties shown below. The numberin each county is last month’s incidence rate for a diseasein cases per 100,000 population.(Dick Schaeffer, 2005)

MWM 2007 3

Statistical Versus Mathematical Thinking

Mathematical Thinking Explain patterns Often a deterministic way of thinking

Statistical Thinking Search for patterns in the presence of

variability Acknowledge role of chance variation

MWM 2007 4

Statistical Thinking

Statistical thinking is HARD!

Needs to be developed and nurtured over time, much like mathematical thinking

Is a skill that is critical to making informed decisions based on empirical evidence

The Challenge…

Changing role of statistics in the K-12 curriculumMoving from

“another year, another graph” curriculum

toa curriculum that is focused on developing statistical thinking and the ability to communicate statistical ideas

The Opportunity

Nurturing and Developing Statistical Thinking

Integration of new topics and concepts

Recognition that reasoning matures over time and requires a developmental approach