There Once Was a 9-Block ...--A Middle-School Design for Probability and Statistics

Autor/inn/en	Abrahamson, Dor; Janusz, Ruth M.; Wilensky, Uri
Titel	There Once Was a 9-Block ...--A Middle-School Design for Probability and Statistics
Quelle	In: Journal of Statistics Education, 14 (2006) 1, (26 Seiten)Infoseite zur Zeitschrift PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1069-1898
Schlagwörter	College School Cooperation; Grade 6; Scientific Concepts; Middle School Students; Statistics; Mathematical Concepts; Mathematics Instruction; Mathematics Activities; Probability; Units of Study; Learning Activities; Computer Simulation; Computer Assisted Instruction; Illinois + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? School year 06; 6. Schuljahr; Schuljahr 06; Middle school; Middle schools; Student; Students; Mittelschule; Mittelstufenschule; Schüler; Schülerin; Statistik; Mathematics lessons; Mathematikunterricht; Wahrscheinlichkeitsrechnung; Wahrscheinlichkeitstheorie; Lerneinheit; Lernaktivität; Computergrafik; Computersimulation; Computer based training; Computerunterstützter Unterricht
Abstract	ProbLab is a probability-and-statistics unit developed at the Center for Connected Learning and Computer-Based Modeling, Northwestern University. Students analyze the combinatorial space of the 9-block, a 3-by-3 grid of squares, in which each square can be either green or blue. All 512 possible 9-blocks are constructed and assembled in a "bar chart" poster according to the number of green squares in each, resulting in a narrow and very tall display. This combinations tower is the same shape as the normal distribution received when 9-blocks are generated randomly in computer-based simulated probability experiments. The resemblance between the display and the distribution is key to student insight into relations between theoretical and empirical probability and between determinism and randomness. The 9-block also functions as a sampling format in a computer-based statistics activity, where students sample from a "population" of squares and then input and pool their guesses as to the greenness of the population. We report on an implementation of the design in two Grade 6 classrooms, focusing on student inventions and learning as well as emergent classroom socio-mathematical behaviors in the combinations-tower activity. We propose an application of the 9-block framework that affords insight into the Central Limit Theorem in science. (Contains 14 figures.) (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Statistical Association. 732 North Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. Tel: 703-684-1221; Tel: 888-231-3473; Fax: 703-684-2037; e-mail: asainfo@amstat.org; Web site: http://www.amstat.org/publications/jse
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10