Math and Stats

Today I noticed that my learners can easily most calculations in stats, but when it comes to interpretations they really struggle.

I think there is is thin line between math and stats. As teachers we need to take note of that our learners struggle with making sense of numbers or values calculated.

Measures of Spread...Statistics

I was trying to explain to my learners that, the number of data sets (scores) can be a sample or the actual population. It was a rather worse when I said that, when the data is less than 30, you need to divide by n - 1, not just n. They were confused. I think this is a very powerful statistical method that is beyond grade 11 comprehension. I think we rather stick to one formula. The catch is, we have to incorporate both scenarios as it depends on the data given.

On a more positive note, they managed to master the three spreads, i.e. variance, standard deviation and mean deviation. But they need more examples to see how to make good interpretations of the results. I really enjoyed this session.

Comments welcome...

Cumulative frequency Graph or Ogive

My learners were so amazed with the power of Statistics when it comes to graphs. They were seeing/getting explanation of this graph for the first time and they appreciated the ingenuity of statisticians.

This came up as a result of them being involved in a research project, where I was trying to do statistics in a practical way. This is one way to encourage learner participation.

Teaching Math is demanding

I have noticed that some of the important issues are ignored in math education. It is high time that we consider math as a human right as early as Grade 0 or Year 0 in the formal schooling education.

You find that a lady in elementary education/primary has very little mathematical thinking herself and she is taken to teaching math at lower classes as if it is an unimportant, easy math. This is wrong impression as if the child is not exposed to good and correct number/numeracy understand at relevant point in time, the chances of being successful in math are so slim.

I therefore believe that specialist math educators/teachers should be a way to go at all levels of math education to be successful in future.