Teachers Day (Improving statistical education in schools and colleges and workshop resources)
" The whole day was very useful and illustrated ways of applying statistics into many areas of the curriculum"
1 Development of data visualisation methods: An interactive computer workshop using SMART resources
James Nicholson, Consultant to the SMART Centre, University of Durham
Every interesting problem in health, crime, poverty, environment, education, personal well being…is multivariate, has non-linear relationships, has confounding variables ... We don’t teach these things in school, but perhaps we should! This workshop was a hands-on session – no technical expertise was required as the data interfaces are very intuitive, and the emphasis was heavily on understanding the stories in the data.
SMART website at Durham Uni www.dur.ac.uk/smart.centre/
2 RowingAtSchool: The RSSCSE are working with Concept2 to collect real data from schools.
Tom Kay, (three times lightweight rowing world champion) Concept2
Mark Cox, Health and Fitness Manager, University of Plymouth
During this session delegates had the opportunity to collect and compare their data from Concept2 rowing machines or a Watt bike.
SportAtSchool website www.sportatschool.org.uk/
3 Takeshi’s Castle: This interactive workshop demonstrated the probabilities behind this popular Japanese game show.
Ted Graham, Senior Lecturer in Mathematics and Statistics, Centre for Teaching Mathematics, University of Plymouth
This session started with a look at the Japanese game show Takeshi’s Castle on YouTube. The group then used an electronic version of the game to introduce the principle and then used simulations and tree diagrams to find the probability of winning. Once this was established the group looked at what happens if you break the rules and modify the electronic game to take this into account.Centre for Teaching Mathematics www.tech.plym.ac.uk/research/mathematics_education/
4 Playing with Statistics: Interactive Statistical Activities for all age groups
Carrie Headlam, PGCE Secondary Mathematics Coordinator, University of Plymouth
During this session delegates had the opportunity to try out interactive paper based activities created from the CensusAtSchool real data. These fun activities can be used as starters or as part of a whole lesson.
CensusAtSchool website www.censusatschool.org.uk/resources
5 Data Handling Experiences in Primary School
Ceri Speed, Teacher, Cwrt Rawlin School, Caerphilly Learning about data handling begins in the primary school.
For example, nursery children could be guided to complete a tally chart to decide on a colour to paint their classroom; In year 6, a survey could be used to promote positive attitudes towards healthy eating.
The aim of this presentation was to give an overview of current practice in teaching data handling in a Welsh primary school. A sample of work by the year 6 class was displayed, where ‘real’ data was collected and analysed to demonstrate the importance of effective data handling.
For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will pass on your enquiry.
6 Use of Autograph: A computer workshop delivered by the creator/designer of Autograph
Douglas Butler, Creator of Autograph
Douglas makes a point of collecting useful data to help bring statistics teaching to life, and shares them on the TSM Resources website. This, together with CensusAtSchool data, was a great opportunity to see how Autograph can help to motivate students to enjoy data, by manipulating dynamic statistical and probability objects on screen.
Autograph website http://www.autograph-math.com/
TSM Resources website http://www.tsm-resources.com/
7 Ecological Footprints: a Welsh experience of cross-curricular, real data student conferences at KS4
John Shrouder, ‘Planet Earth’ Project Leader, Royal Statistical Society (RSS)
Debra Hurcomb,Theme Manager, RSS
Planet Earth: over the limit? is a one day conference using the subject matter of climate change and Eco-footprints to teach school children data based problem solving and decision making. Climate change, sustainability, Eco-footprints,.... etc., provide a bountiful supply of interesting and challenging problems for which data is crucial to informed understanding of the issues.
During this session ideas for the future of planet Earth including follow-on project work, roll out to other schools, creating stand-alone resources, and developing a Footprint AtSchool database were discussed. Collaboration with the Centre for Alternative Technology, the World Wildlife Fund and the Welsh Assembly Government is anticipated. These organisations all regard the ‘data angle’ as essential to successful climate change and sustainability education. The RSS now has something very specific to bring to the table. The growing importance and urgency of these issues gives the RSS and statisticians a golden opportunity to demonstrate the value of our expertise.
For more information please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and we will pass your enquiry to John Shrouder and Debra Hurcomb.
8 CensusAtSchool: Real Data, Real Learning. An interactive practical computer workshop using the CensusAtSchool Data Interrogation Tool to analyse pupils’ own data
Kate Richards, AtSchool Coordinator, RSSCSE
Mark Crowley Nottingham Trent University
This computer workshop showed how real data collected from school pupils can be used by learners and their teachers to solve real life problems. As the CensusAtSchool data is real data, opportunities for discussion about the problems real data presents and how to overcome these are plenty. The CensusAtSchool Data Interrogation Tool and the Random Data Selector were used to access and to analyse the children's data. Mark Crowley also showcased the ExperimentsAtSchool website. These are free online RSSCSE resources accessible to learners of all ages.CensusAtSchool http://www.censusatschool.org.uk/
ExperimentsAtSchool http://www.experimentsatschool.com/
9 Research methods, the new Project, Extended Project and WJEC
Gareth Pierce, Chief Executive, WJECGareth Pierce, Chief Executive, WJECGareth outlined the opportunities for investigative work that are available through the new Project and Extended Project qualifications, and explained how the RSSCSE and WJEC are working together to develop resources to support students' work in data handling. The aim is to encourage students to make as much relevant use of statistical methods as possible, to suit their data and their own abilities.
WJEC website http://www.wjec.co.uk/
WJEC Extended Project www.wjec.co.uk/?subject=30&level=162
10 CPD for school teachers; The role of the RSS in statistics in schools; the RSS-accredited CERTIFICATE IN TEACHING STATISTICS (up to Pre-university Level)
Neil Sheldon CStat, Senior Master, Manchester Grammar School
This talk was aimed at teachers who are 'comfortable with the basics' but feel that their statistical knowledge and expertise could be developed further. Neil Sheldon presented some thought-provoking ideas on what statistics is really all about: the blend of theory and practice that enables us to understand the world better through the proper analysis of data.
Some teachers who attended this session have been tempted to sign up for the RSSCSE Certificate in Teaching Statistics up to Pre-university Level. Neil is the course leader for the certificate.
For more information on the RSSCSE Certificate in Teaching Statistics up to Pre-university Level please see www.rsscse.org.uk/activities/for-school/tsise
And see www.rsscse.org.uk/news/rsscse-news/297-support-for-teachers-of-statistics for information on how to apply for a bursary from the Teaching Statistics Trust.
11 Teaching and Learning Risk in Schools
Professor Dave Pratt, Institute of Education, London.
Dr Phillip Kent Senior Research Officer, London Knowledge Lab
Risk now appears in the curriculum for Mathematics and Science. However, there is little information available at school level about how to do this:teachers have great difficulty in finding out what new knowledge and pedagogy skills are needed. To help solve this problem, we are conducting a research project, Teacher's Understanding of Risk in Socio-scientific Issues (funded by the Wellcome Trust), where we are investigating how mathematics and science teachers make sense of the concept of risk, how this understanding shapes their teaching and what new possibilities exist for teaching in a cross curricular way.
The findings, including the development of software whose design reflect those emerging pedagogical ideas, were discussed in this session.
Promoting Teachers’ Understanding of Risk in Socio-Scientific Issues http://www.riskatioe.org/
