Literature Index

Brief description of a course using computers and data examples.

This chapter is concerned with the impact of computers on probability in general secondary education. Mathematics educators have been producing ideas for using computers and calculators in probability education for two decades. Although there are many teaching suggestions, empirical research on this topic is uncommon and critical reports of practical experience rarely go beyond an enthusiastic description. A critical review of ideas, software and experience which would be helpful for further research and development is the major objective of this chapter. We will deal with pedagogical aspects, the subject matter and its change, and the role of changing technology. Various approaches will be reviewed; computers used as general mathematical utilities, simulation as a scientific method, and simulation for providing an empirical background for probability. Graphical methods may enhance the idea of visualization. The emphasis is on general orientation in the field.

Much of the computing that students do in introductory statistics courses is based on techniques that were developed before computing became inexpensive and ubiquitous. Now that computing is readily available to all students, instructors can change the way we teach statistical concepts. This article describes computational ideas that can support teaching George Cobb's Three Rs of statistical inference: Randomize, Repeat, Reject.

In spite of the name, simple linear regression presents a number of conceptual difficulties, particularly for introductory students. This article describes a simulation tool that provides a hands-on method for illuminating the relationship between parameters and sample statistics.