The highlights of the U.S. Conference on Teaching Statistics (USCOTS)
include interaction and discussion among statistics educators with
similar interests. One mechanism for facilitating such conversations is
a birds-of-a-feather lunch discussion, in which people with similar
interests gather over lunch to discuss a particular topic. This year
we're expanding this program to include not only lunches on both Friday
and Saturday but also dinner on Saturday of the conference ( May 29 , 30).
Please consider proposing a birds-of-a-feather topic for which you would
be glad to facilitate discussion. To submit a proposal, write to Allan
Rossman ( arossman(a)calpoly.edu ) by Fri May 8 with the following information:
1. Name and email address of facilitator
2. Title of discussion topic (to appear in online program)
3. Brief (no more than 100 words) description of discussion topic (to
appear in online program)
4. Very brief (no more than 20 characters) abbreviated title to appear
on a sign at the table
5. Indicate which of the available times ( Fri lunch, Sat lunch, or Sat
dinner) you can hold the discussion. Also indicate any preferences
among these options.
Thanks very much for considering this,
Allan Rossman
P.S. It's not too late to register for USCOTS! See
https://www.causeweb.org/uscots/ for more information.
----- Original Message -----
Sign-up now for our next Journal of Statistics Education Webinar Series
"A Pilot Study Teaching Metrology in an Introductory Statistics Course"
with Emily Casleton and Ulrike Genschel, Iowa State University
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. Eastern time, April 21 st , 2015 (note special time)
Abstract: In this webinar, we will present lecture material and activities that introduce metrology, the science of measurement, which were developed and tested in a pilot study at Iowa State University. Our motivation for the newly developed material stems from the observation that many undergraduate students who have just completed an introductory statistics course still lack a deeper understanding of variability and enthusiasm for the field of statistics. The materials explain how to characterize sources of variability in a dataset, in a way that is natural and accessible, because the sources of variability are observable. Everyday examples of measurements, such as the amount of gasoline pumped into a car, are presented, and the consequences of variability within those measurements are discussed. A corresponding article in the November issue of Journal of Statistics Education shows most students who were exposed to the material improved their understanding of variability and had a greater appreciation of the value of statistics.
Logistics : The webinar will be conducted using the GoToWebinar software platform. A computer with internet access is all you need. GoToWebinar offers audio participation through your computer microphone. For participants in the US and Canada, if you prefer the telephone for audio participation, this feature is also available.
All registered webinar attendees will receive a confirmation email generated by the GoToWebinar system upon registering. This email includes a link to enter the webinar. Keep this confirmation email as you will use this link to enter the webinar – you will also be sent a reminder with the link two hours before the webinar begins. Once you leave the webinar, you cannot re-enter. If you have not used GoToWebinar before, please review the information below. The webinar will be recorded and the archived version will be available on-line within a few days following the presentation, if you are unable to attend.
New to GoToWebinar?
You will see the live presentation on your computer screen and the sound of the presentation will come through your computer. If you can listen to music or hear videos on your computer, your computer has the capability for you to hear the presentation. For your voice to be heard by the presenters, if you wish to ask a question, GTW gives viewers the option of VoIP (voice over the internet) or a telephone option for U.S. and Canadian participants. VoIP will allow everyone from around the world to participate without additional cost. The option to change from VoIP to phone will appear in the screen of options after you enter the webinar. If you wish to change to phone, follow the instructions and enter the provided pin number. If you are using VoIP, you will need a microphone attached to your computer so that your question can be heard by the presenter/audience.
GoToWebinar offers a short video, “ Attendee Quick Start (5:09) ”, which you may find helpful: http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToMeeting/video/GTMV00012
For PC-based participants:
* Internet Explorer 7.0 or newer, Mozilla Firefox 4.0 or newer or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer. JavaScript must be enabled.
* Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server.
* Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection.
* Dual-core 2.4GHz CPU or faster with 2GB of RAM or more.
* Participants wishing to connect to audio using VoIP will need a fast Internet connection, a microphone and speakers (or USB headset).
For Mac-based participants:
* Safari 3.0 or newer, Firefox 4.0 or newer or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer. JavaScript must be enabled.
* Mac OS X 10.6 – Snow Leopard or newer.
* Intel processor with 1GB of RAM or more.
* Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection.
* Macs have built-in speakers and a microphone with ambient noise reduction that will work well for VoIP.
For participants with GoToMeeting app for iPad, iPhone, or Android:
* Free GoToMeeting app from the App Store or Google Play.
* WiFi connection recommended for VoIP audio.
April's Teaching & Learning Series Webinar
Sign-up now for our next Teaching & Learning Series webinar, Tuesday, April 14 th 2:00 p.m. Eastern Standard Time
on "Developing Teachers' Understanding of Statistics"with Tim Jacobbe, University of Florida
Abstract: Expectations for teaching statistics have been increased without adequately addressing teachers' preparation. This session will share
results from teachers' performance on the NSF-funded LOCUS assessments as well as identify resources that may be used in training teachers during
preparation and professional development programs.
Logistics : The webinar will be conducted using the GoToWebinar software platform. A computer with internet access is all you need. GoToWebinar offers audio participation through your computer microphone. For participants in the US and Canada, if you prefer the telephone for audio participation, this feature is also available.
All registered webinar attendees will receive a confirmation email generated by the GoToWebinar system upon registering. This email includes a link to enter the webinar. Keep this confirmation email as you will use this link to enter the webinar – you will also be sent a reminder with the link two hours before the webinar begins. Once you leave the webinar, you cannot re-enter. If you have not used GoToWebinar before, please review the information below. The webinar will be recorded and the archived version will be available on-line within a few days following the presentation, if you are unable to attend.
New to GoToWebinar?
You will see the live presentation on your computer screen and the sound of the presentation will come through your computer. If you can listen to music or hear videos on your computer, your computer has the capability for you to hear the presentation. For your voice to be heard by the presenters, if you wish to ask a question, GTW gives viewers the option of VoIP (voice over the internet) or a telephone option for U.S. and Canadian participants. VoIP will allow everyone from around the world to participate without additional cost. The option to change from VoIP to phone will appear in the screen of options after you enter the webinar. If you wish to change to phone, follow the instructions and enter the provided pin number. If you are using VoIP, you will need a microphone attached to your computer so that your question can be heard by the presenter/audience.
GoToWebinar offers a short video, “ Attendee Quick Start (5:09) ”, which you may find helpful: http://support.citrixonline.com/en_US/GoToMeeting/video/GTMV00012
For PC-based participants:
* Internet Explorer 7.0 or newer, Mozilla Firefox 4.0 or newer or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer. JavaScript must be enabled.
* Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server.
* Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection.
* Dual-core 2.4GHz CPU or faster with 2GB of RAM or more.
* Participants wishing to connect to audio using VoIP will need a fast Internet connection, a microphone and speakers (or USB headset).
For Mac-based participants:
* Safari 3.0 or newer, Firefox 4.0 or newer or Google Chrome 5.0 or newer. JavaScript must be enabled.
* Mac OS X 10.6 – Snow Leopard or newer.
* Intel processor with 1GB of RAM or more.
* Cable modem, DSL, or better Internet connection.
* Macs have built-in speakers and a microphone with ambient noise reduction that will work well for VoIP.
For participants with GoToMeeting app for iPad, iPhone, or Android:
* Free GoToMeeting app from the App Store or Google Play.
* WiFi connection recommended for VoIP audio.
For attendees with GoToMeeting app for Windows RT tablet:
Dear Introductory Statistics Instructors,
I’m currently developing an assessment tool designed to measure how well students understand when and how to use statistical inference in novel problem contexts after completing an introductory course in statistical inference.
If you are a post-secondary introductory statistics instructor, I’m writing to ask for your help to pilot the Introductory Statistics Transfer of Understanding and Discernment Outcomes (I-STUDIO) assessment. The I-STUDIO assessment is designed to present students with novel problem contexts and requires students to discern between problems that would or would not benefit from statistical inference, and then asks them to explain how they would solve each problem.
I am developing this assessment for my dissertation research at the University of Minnesota, where I am a doctoral candidate in the Department of Educational Psychology with a concentration in Statistics Education working under the supervision of my co-advisers, Joan Garfield and Bob delMas.
The I-STUDIO assessment is designed to accommodate a wide variety of introductory statistics curricula and could be used for a variety of purposes. Statistics instructors could use the results from the I-STUDIO assessment to refine curriculum decisions, and researchers could use it as a tool to compare and contrast outcomes of disparate curricula as a measure of the propensity of students to appropriately transfer learning to novel applications.
I am requesting your help at this time to field test the assessment with your students. The data gathered will be used to evaluate the validity and reliability of the I-STUDIO assessment. I am searching for 6-8 class sections that represent a diverse mix of curricula and institutions.
If you participate, I will provide summary data that describes the results for your students as well as a summary of the results collected from other institutions for comparison upon request. You can administer the I-STUDIO assessment to your students outside of class, though I ask that they work independently. Students will complete the assessment using a web-based interface called Qualtrics, and you will receive your students’ responses after they complete the assessment.
Ideally, I would like you to administer the I-STUDIO assessment near the end of the current academic term.
If you are interested, please contact me at beckm109(a)umn.edu by April 15 , 2015 with the following information:
- number of students in your class;
- institution name;
- primary textbook.
I will then send you a copy of the I-STUDIO assessment and provide additional information. I thank you for your consideration, and would look forward to partnering with you during this phase of my research.
Sincerely,
Matt Beckman
Doctoral Candidate
Department of Educational Psychology
University of Minnesota
subject: Today 's the best day to register for USCOTS!
The 2015 USCOTS program is now available at https://www.causeweb.org/uscots/uscots15/program.php
Remember to register by 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday April 1 to
* get a $40 discount on the cost of registration;
* get automatic acceptance into any workshop(s) you sign up for;
* get earlier word on the status of your registration grant request (especially important if you are in one of the targeted groups for these grants: Grad Students, High School Teachers, or Two-year College Instructors); and to
* submit your abstract to be reviewed for the Poster & Beyond sessions
See you at USCOTS!