The African Data Initiative started as a crowd-sourced campaign to improve the teaching of statistics in African universities. The analysis of climate data provides one suitable context to illustrate ideas that lead to a radical new form of teaching. The problem within the context comes first, the technicalities are largely reduced -- mathematics…

The goal of this paper is to promote computational thinking among mathematics, engineering, science and technology students, through hands-on computer experiments. These activities have the potential to empower students to learn, create and invent with technology, and they engage computational thinking through simulations, visualizations and data…

Incorporation of mathematics into biology curricula is critical to underscore for undergraduate students the relevance of mathematics to most fields of biology and the usefulness of developing quantitative process skills demanded in modern biology. At our institution, we have made significant changes to better integrate mathematics into the…

A challenging problem in some developing countries such as Nigeria is inadequate training of students in effective problem solving using the core concepts of their disciplines. Related to this is a disconnection between their learning and socio-economic development agenda of a country. These problems are more vivid in statistical education which…

Women are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) areas in university settings; however this may be the result of attitude rather than aptitude. There is widespread agreement that quantitative problem-solving is essential for graduate competence and preparedness in science and other STEM subjects. The research…

Three calculation methods were compared in solving problems involving frequency distributions, manual, basic calculator, and advanced calculator. Calculators were more efficient but there was no difference in calculator type. (MP)

Techniques for teaching linear regression are provided. Discussed are leverage and the hat matrix in simple regression, residuals, the notion of leaving out each observation individually, and use of this to study influence on fitted values and to define residuals. Finally, corresponding diagnostics for multiple regression are discussed. (MNS)

Poor performance in technical/statistical courses may reflect ineffective problem-solving strategies. Experts approach problem solving with tacit strategies such as chunking, emergence, fundamental questioning, attention to process, and self-monitoring. These concepts can be presented in ways that enable students to practice expert behaviors.…

Statistical problems were used to test the hypothesis that calculators facilitate problem solution by saving time and increasing accuracy. Manual, basic machine and advance machine methods were used. (MP)

Investigated were the effects on computation performance of amount of prepractice and type of calculator, when students were told to work very fast vs very accurately. (MP)

Three calculation methods--handwork, or simple or advanced calculators--and two levels of difficulty--easy or hard--were used to investigate the effects on computational performance. (MP)

Solving statistical problems using a calculator with sophisticated features was compared to solving the same problems by hand. The calculator group was more accurate and took far less time. (MP)

Suggests an approach to statistics which views the field as a means of communicating with others. Emphasizes statistical language as a means of answering questions through understanding of procedures and use of various resources. (Author/AV)

Research on college students' ability to estimate means and variances for sets of data showed that they were more able to estimate means, and that various characteristics of the data (e.g. magnitude of numbers) influenced the accuracy of estimates. (SD)

A method of approximating areas under curves in precalculus courses is described. (SD)