Designing a data analysis tool for learners.

In this chapter, I describe ideas underlying the design of a software tool we developed for middle school students. The tool - TinkerPlots - allows students to organize data to help them see patterns and trends in data much in the spirit of visualization tools such as Data Desk (DataDescription, Inc.). But we also intend teachers and curriculum designers to use it to help students build solid conceptual understanding of what statistics are and how we can use them.