Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee Guidelines for Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education http://www.amstat.org/education/gaise/GAISECollege.htm Workshop on Teaching Introductory Statistics Session 1c: Planning A Conceptual Course Using Common Threads And Big Ideas Roger Woodard, North Carolina State University Ginger Holmes Rowell, Middle Tennessee State University Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee July 10th, 2006 JMM 2006: Session on First Steps for Implementing the Recommendations of GAISE

Missing the big picture Most students in introductory statistics courses See statistics as disconnected topics. Learn normal distribution for first exam… …then forget it. Learn confidence intervals for second exam…

Missing the big picture Never see connection. Some don’t associate 1.96 in margin of error with normal distribution. Bigger problem: Don’t understand where confidence intervals will be in their lives. Why do I care?

Problem Need to convey to students the interconnections of statistical topics. Need to help students develop understanding of the conceptual basis of statistics. Need to convey to students an overall goal that motivates what topics will be covered.

One approach Concept maps Graphical organizer that shows topics Presents concepts graphically Also presents descriptive links Links are the key. Understand how topics interrelate.

Example Why are there seasons?

Concept Maps for Statistics Creating a concept map can help in identifying common threads. Focus presentation for your students.

Creating a Concept Map List a few key topics About 4, probably not more than 7. Write them on blank paper. Think about how they relate to course goals.

Creating a Concept Map Make connecting links Draw lines that connect topics. Write a short phrase that describes the link.

Creating a Concept Map Add supporting topics Major topics that are not the most important but still important. Again place descriptive links.

Creating a Concept Map Revise Restructure your concept map to simplify appearance. Be sure all links are listed.

Creating a Concept Map Identify common threads Look for concepts that are linked to many topics. Identify a few topics that are pivotal.

Your Turn As groups you will create a concept map of introductory statistics Based on the topics list you have from earlier.

Concept Maps Use it. Emphasize key concepts and course goal. Encourage students to use it.

Advantages of Concept maps Visualize concepts Most students are visual learners. More readily understand graphical presentation. Connections are Explicit Not a disconnected list of topics.

Conceptual Course Spend less time on minor topics. Spend more time on common threads. Point out the connections.