Using Technology to Improve Student Learning of Statistics

Abstract

Interactive software data visualization tools which allow for the creation of novel representations of data open up new possibilities for students (and teachers) to make sense of data, but also place new demands on teachers to assess the validity of the arguments that students are making with these representations, and to facilitate conversations in productive ways. Overview This chapter presents a broad overview of the role technological tools can play in helping high school and college introductory statistics students understand and reason about important statistical ideas. The main goal of this chapter is to provide some background of how the technology tools have evolved, a sense of the research findings and open questions on how technology impacts student learning, and concrete advice, stemming from the research literature, information on using how to use technological tools and how to avoid common pitfalls or ineffective implementations. We first summarize the impact of technology on the content, pedagogy , and even format of introductory statistics courses. Then, we highlight some of the common technological tools currently in use in statistics education and how they can be utilized to support student learning. We summarize some of the recent research insights gained with respect to using technology to aid instruction and learning in probability and statistics. While not an exhaustive literature review , the studies discussed provide additional context for a series of practical recommendations to the instructor, along with a discussion of possible obstacles and implementation issues, and questions to consider when selecting different tools.