international statistical literacy project improving statistical literacy by national and...

International Statistical Literacy ProjectInternational Statistical Literacy Project

Improving Statistical Literacy

by National and International Cooperation


Key points• Advancing the use of statistical data as the base for

various projects• Arenas of data use– attention to different users and user groups

• Learning from the practices of others– cooperation projects – how to combine competence

resources– best practices – models for product development

• Conclusions2


Why is statistical literacy needed?

• Statistical literacy is the ability to read and interpret summary statistics in the everyday media: in graphs, tables, statements, surveys and studies. Statistical literacy is needed by data consumers (Milo Schield).

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The strategic objective of a national statistical agency is to advance the use of statistics

• Statistics find and increase their meaning through their use – Only when used is information useful

• The existence and reliability of a statistical agency is based on users' willingness and need to use statistics– Different users have different needs and skills in acquiring

and understanding statistical data– Segmented services will be more and more in focus– Services supporting the use of statistics are increasingly

important

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ISLP around the world

• The mission of the International Statistical Literacy Project (ISLP) is to support, create and participate in statistical literacy activities and promotion around the world

• The main aim will be contributing to statistical literacy across the world, among young and adults, in all phases of life

• Another aim is to bring together different actors: producers of statistics, statisticians, users

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Arenas of data use

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Science

Education

Culture

Civic society

Commercial markets

Politics

Public administration

Professions

Scientific community

Model: Arenas of the publicity of science

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Example on segmenting users at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)

• School Students (both primary and secondary)• Tertiary Students (including university and vocational

education students and teachers/lecturers)• Opinion Leaders (including journalists)• Decision Makers (including politicians, political

advisors and government employees)• General Community (including small

business/community groups)

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• Data needs and skill levels of segments presented on a three-step scale– Basic literacy– Intermediate literacy– Advanced literacy

• One segment can have users from different levels => attention to this in product development

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Example on segmenting users at the ABS


Bringing forth strategic groups: Statistics Finland• Creation of a stakeholder policy to steer activity• Checking the focuses of stakeholders and customer work

at certain intervals • At the core of activities in 2010: – Research institutes and development of researcher

services • Targets for segmented activity:– Educational institutions– The media– Enterprises

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ISLP – models for increasing the use of statistical data• Aims to:– Pay attention to different target groups– Develop various activities– Use different media (technical, social) – Organise activity and apply models globally together

with national ISLP coordinators

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ISLP – target groups for advancing the use of statistics

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Statistial Literacy

Educational instutions

Media

Libraries

Citizens

Decision makers??

Public administration

??

Professions??

Scientific community??


Cooperation projects – combining resources and competence

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CensusAtSchool• Aims to– Encourage children to get involved

with data handling and learn statistical skills – Provide real data for data handling activities – Increase awareness of national censuses– Show how information and communication technology

(ICT) can be used effectively to enhance teaching and learning especially in the area of data handling

• Running in the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and Australia

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CAUSEweb.org

• CAUSE is a national organisation whose mission is to support and advance undergraduate statistics education in four target areas: resources, professional development, outreach and research

• Resources listed by material type– Goal: collect, review, develop, and disseminate

resources for members of the undergraduate statistics education community

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CAUSEweb.org• Lecture Examples: Lesson modules for lecturers• Laboratories: Computer and hands-on activities• Out-of-class: Homework, projects, and distance learning materials• Teaching Methods: Classroom pedagogy and logistics• Datasets: Data and how to use it• Analysis Tools: Software and on-line tools• Curriculum: Syllabus issues and sources of statistics conten.• Fun: Cartoons, statistical art, jokes, poems, word puzzles, quotes,

songs, and videos for instructional use• Building Blocks: Unattached components for modular use• Multimedia: Video, sound, and animations• Advising: careers, graduate schools, opportunities for students

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www.statlit.org

• The site aims to: – Present statistical literacy as an interdisciplinary

activity– Feature books, papers and activities related to

statistical literacy – taken broadly from a variety of disciplines

– Present statistical literacy as useful in everyday arguments

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eCourse in Statistics

• A joint project between the National Statistics Office of Malte, University of Hagen (Germany) and Statistics Finland

• Further developed on the basis of Statistics Finland´s e-learning materials

• Target group: young adults• Examples from the EU area aiming at extensive use of

the service in different countries• New cooperation partners/actors wanted to develop the

service

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eCourse in Statistics

http://www.fernuni-hagen.de/statliteracy/

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ISLP – Statistical Literacy Competitions

• Objectives– To advance the understanding and use of statistics in

educational institutions – To create networks between teaching of statistical science,

national statistical agencies and educational institutions – To use the competition format all over the world– The next competition to be launched in September 2010.

Further information at the ISLP site.

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Examples of best practices – models for product development

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Serving the media in a user-friendly way: as an example Statistics Canada

• Offering different service modes for the same target group– Media Hotline – ad hoc service for the media– Media Room – Internet site directed to the media– The Daily – release bulletin– Training– Assistance in story contents and news making

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Content development of the web service together with educational institution users: as an example Alea

• Aims at providing both teachers and students of secondary education with teaching materials for the study of statistics

• A joint idea of Statistics Portugal and Tomaz Pelayo Secondary School, bringing together The Portuguese Ministry of Education, through its Northern Regional Education Department (DREN).

• A good example of networking with key interest groups• Ensures that the contents of the service meets the needs

of users

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Opening of statistics to data users: as an example Understanding of Statistics

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Conclusions


• What is statistics for?– Citizen’s right to understand and use the information

produced by society is the basis of a democratic society

– Anybody can be a user of statistics - from random users to major users

– Impartial and easy availability of statistical data for all subsections of society

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Conclusions


Conclusions• Development of services in cooperation with interest

group representatives – Charting of data needs– Developing products on that basis• Timeliness, clearness, understandability• Data produced in the form agreed, usefulness of

expertise to customers• Production of services in cooperation with statistical

experts in the field– Networking– Sharing of competence and resources

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Users

Conclusions

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• Increasing cooperation to enhance statistical literacy and user skills

international statistical literacy project improving statistical literacy by national and...

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