1. Mastery Assessment in Teaching Statistics
Dora Cardenas Ahmadi
Morehead State University

2. Three Ways
Projects
Homework Assignments
Testing

3. Projects
Partner Selection
The assignment
Assessment

4. Partner Selection Students selected their groups.
Their selection of partners was based on major and/or friendship.
Groups consisted of two or three students.

5. The Project Collect data or use existing data; write a report;
summarize the report on a poster;
present an oral summary of the report.

6. The Question or Experiment
Each group was asked to design and perform a statistical experiment or come out with a question.

7. The Question or Experiment
Questions were preferably related to their major.
Design a plan to collect the data that will help answer their question.

8. Question
For the most part, a student in a group showed interest in a question and convinced others in the group to go along with it.
Questions were related either to their field of study or a course they were taking that semester.
Overall their experiences were positive.

9. Report describe the problem as posed;
thoroughly explain the findings including all assumptions, interpretations and important calculations;
cite any outside resources used;

10. Report (cont.)
discuss any related ideas or questions that have been raised by the examination of the question; and
when appropriate, do use units of measurement.

11. Parts of the Report
Front Materials: Include at least a title page, table of contents with page numbers, a list of tables and a list of figures.
Nature and background of the study: Include an introduction describing the purpose of the study; it should include the questions to be studied and why they are of interest to the group.
Review of Literature

12. Parts of Report -Methodology
A discussion of the design of the study
Identify the population to be studied.
Identify the variable(s) of interest.
Describe the method of obtaining their sample and the factors considered in deciding a method of sampling. Include ways of insuring randomness.

13. Methodology- cont.
Describe data collection. If measuring is involved describe measuring tools and precision.
Set up null hypothesis, alternative hypothesis, and level of significance to be used.

14. Data Analysis – Descriptive Statistics
MINITAB or other statistical package was used to perform a descriptive analysis including graphical representations of data. Each table or graph was embedded in the report, it was numbered, and it was described in words.

15. Inferential Statistics
Construct at least one confidence interval for a population parameter of interest. Use MINITAB to run a hypothesis test and include MINITAB output of your hypothesis test(s). Each table or graph should embedded in the report and should be described in words. Make sure that the claim to be tested is clearly stated in words.

16. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
Students were directed to state a conclusion that follows from their hypothesis test. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the conclusion should include answer(s) to the question(s) addressed by their study.

17. Bibliography and Appendix
List of sources used in designing the experiment and writing the report. MINITAB or software used
Appendix
Any questionnaire(s) used and compiled data.

18. Assessment Checkpoints scheduled throughout the semester
Group Selection
Question to be investigated
Data collection
Descriptive analysis
Inferential analysis

19. Mastery Assessment Draft report Draft Power Point
Drafts were submitted multiple times and feedback was provided.
A few meetings with groups were scheduled in class.
Most meetings with groups were scheduled out of class.

20. Students’ Evaluation
Students found their projects were useful in understanding statistical concepts.
They felt that they learned a lot from the social interactions.
They reported that the concepts became tangible while working on their projects.

21. Homework Assignments From submitted and graded paper homework
To online homework- Hawkes Learning System- Mastery Learning Approach

22. Benefits of Online Homework
Students taking interest in their own learning
Students learning to ask questions that aid in helping understand mathematical concepts
Students becoming better readers
Improved self-esteem
Increased level of participation

23. Mastery Testing Paper Testing Select topics for testing
Allow students to achieve mastery in each topic
Grading M- mastery, P- progress to mastery, H- need help
Retesting allowed until the end of the semester.

24. Pros and Cons Grading is easy.
There is no question about how grades are obtained.
Students take interest in learning.
Writing tests is time consuming.
There is a need for record keeping per student per question per exam

25. Testing with Technology
Students are allowed to retest until they are satisfied with their performance.

26. Closing Remarks Mastery assessment
encourages students to take interest in learning.
Empowers them to achieve better results.