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Randomization Test for Two Means

Randomization Test for Two Means

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This semester I have incorporated a three-pronged strategy in my intro statistics classes: Flip the classroom – having students learn material at home Make the classroom more engaging – using more group activities and Learning Catalytics sessions Focus on early inferential statistics early and often This week began with students learning about the 5-number summary and how to create a boxplot. On Monday we did an activity where students compared two samples of quantitative data in an effort to determine…

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Comparing Two Samples (Quantitative)

Comparing Two Samples (Quantitative)

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My students are wrapping up the part of the course where we cover descriptive statistics. I gave them two sets of data (test scores from two different versions of the same exam) and they spent the day in class computing sample statistics and creating graphs for each sample. Their overall goal was to analyze their results and determine whether there was a significant difference between the two versions or not. Download a pdf of this activity Students compared measures of…

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Bootstrap – Matched Pairs

Bootstrap – Matched Pairs

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This week I began with a bootstrap project for a paired-difference/matched-pairs scenario. Download a pdf of the Project Here One of my goals is to get students working with data they have collected, so I had students collect prices for 25 identical items at two stores. We used this for one of the investigations. Investigation 1 A researched was investigating whether sons are taller than their fathers. My students were provided with 13 matched pairs. I had them find the…

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Bootstrap Method – Estimating a Population Mean

Bootstrap Method – Estimating a Population Mean

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Last week we did our third project that focuses on introducing inferential statistics earlier in the semester. Download the Activity (pdf) Here The bootstrap method repeatedly samples from a sample (with replacement) to help develop an interval estimate of any population parameter. For example, if there is a sample of 10 numerical values we select 10 values (with replacement) and compute the mean of that sample. We then repeat that process for a total of 1000 samples. We can then…

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Resampling – Two Population Proportions

Resampling – Two Population Proportions

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On day 7 of instruction in my intro statistics course we spent the class working through a project comparing two population proportions using resampling. Click here to download a pdf copy of the project: Two Proportion Resampling Hands-On First Mike Sullivan recommends a hands-on simulation before turning to the computers, so I began by using poker chips for this scenario: A random sample of 15 students at my college had 9 female students in it (60% female), while a random…

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Statistics Classroom Activity for Sampling Techniques

Statistics Classroom Activity for Sampling Techniques

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This week I devoted a class period to sampling techniques (random, systematic, cluster, stratified, and convenience). Students worked on an Interactive Reading Assignment before coming to class, and I began class with a quick discussion of the different types and their strengths/weaknesses. After the discussion I followed up with a class activity designed to help students understand how to select a sample using the systematic sampling technique as well as introduce them to some of the sampling features of StatCrunch….

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Learning Catalytics Questions

Learning Catalytics Questions

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There is a growing pool of questions available inside Learning Catalytics. Some have been generated by the publisher, others have been generated by the community of instructors using Learning Catalytics. For my first Flipped Classroom I wrote my own questions (sample vs population, descriptive vs inferential, levels of data, …) and it was very easy to do. However, for day 2, I used 7 questions created by the publisher/author and the community of instructors and those questions were outstanding. The…

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Day 2 of Flipped Classroom/Peer Instruction in Statistics

Day 2 of Flipped Classroom/Peer Instruction in Statistics

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OK, this was a good day. No. It was a great day! I cut down the review of the home content to 10 minutes, and was happy to see so many students participating in the student-driven review by offering their own explanations and definitions. Students know to come to class prepared and looking to participate. I can see where this could turn into a situation where only a handful of students participate though, and will seek to eliminate this pre-review…

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Statistics – My New Approach

Statistics – My New Approach

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This semester I started a new approach in my Statistics classes. I wanted to focus more on conceptual understanding make class time more engaging introduce inference much earlier in the course – including the use of bootstrapping, simulation, and resampling cover nonparametric options for certain hypothesis tests The first strategy I decided to employ was the flipped classroom, incorporating peer instruction. We are using the eText (Interactive Statistics) that I co-authored with Michael Sullivan, and the Interactive Reading Assignments are…

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My 3 R’s and Mindset

My 3 R’s and Mindset

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I took last semester off (bank leave), so Monday will be the first day teaching students in about eight months. What did I do during that time? I worked on the three R’s: resting, reading, and redesigning my classes. Resting I have taught a full load of classes every semester (and nearly every summer) since I started at College of Sequoias back in 1994. I did not think I needed a break because I did not feel the burnout that…

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