Creating a Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment

Abstract

The research studies from the previous chapter suggested very different ways of teaching than traditional lectures, which is how most current statistics instructors learned this subject themselves. Leaving that familiar method to try active learning techniques can be quite challenging. This chapter offers advice on how to deal with many practical issues involved in student learning in an interactive statistics class and describes ways to build what we refer to as a “Statistical Reasoning Learning Environment” (SRLE). Before addressing these practical instructional issues, we begin by considering theories of learning that guide our actions as teachers. We summarize some of the important aspects of current learning theories and provide a model of instruc- tion based on these theories. We offer suggestions for facilitating successful class- room discussions, building cooperative learning experiences for students (see also Chapter 15), and using technology to support students’ construction of statistical knowledge (more in Chapter 5). We also discuss challenges and constraints that make it difficult to teach in a way that promotes statistical literacy and reasoning.