This paper explores the reasons why technology has not been used extensively in New Zealand secondary schools and why changes are now starting to take place. It discusses why Microsoft Excel is a useful tool in the solution of statistical problems and why it is the ideal tool to use in secondary school statistics. A software package, written in Visual Basic, has been developed to augment the teaching of Year 13 Mathematics with Statistics. This software package, called OG Statistics, interacts with Microsoft Office and is designed to encourage the use of Excel in solving statistics problems. A number of worked examples are given that show students how to solve a problem and encourages them to experiment. Practice problems are then provided with worked solutions. When students feel ready to work independently they can attempt the self-assessment modules. This also indicates whether they have reached a reasonable level of competency. The package can be incorporated into a lesson or used as a revision aid for the self-paced learner. The software package also incorporates a number of educational principles including constructivism and scaffolded learning.
The CAUSE Research Group is supported in part by a member initiative grant from the American Statistical Association’s Section on Statistics and Data Science Education