This paper describes a computer-based learning environment for teaching descriptive statistics to eighth grade mathematics students. Using computers as a platform for teaching statistics can promote interest and help learners overcome their inhibitions about statistics. An instructional program, Discovering Statistics, was developed using Hypercard to motivate learners and to promote statistical understanding. Concepts are situated in concrete, real life contexts and the meaning of such concepts are modeled in examples that reflect the statistical problem solving process. Text, graphics, sound, animation, and computer screen recordings are used in various degrees to provide learners with multiple representations that further situate and model instruction.
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