Preparing Teachers to Meet the Challenges of Statistics Education

Abstract

This chapter addresses how teacher education in statistics education may have real impact on classroom practice. Teacher knowledge about statistics and teaching statistics as well as teachers’ practices are discussed with emphasis on tasks and classroom communication, contrasting direct teaching to teaching for exploratory learning. Then, teacher education strategies with emphasis on problematising, interacting, and resourcing are discussed. Finally, the design of teacher education programmes is considered, stressing the need to relate teacher education to teaching practice, the school and the professional group, as well as to provide challenge and support, and to recognise and empower teachers. Examples from in- and pre-service teacher education are presented.