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Improving Statistical Literacy Improving Statistical Literacy in School and Society:in School and Society:

The UK ExperienceThe UK Experience

Peter HolmesPeter HolmesRSS Centre for Statistical RSS Centre for Statistical

Education, Nottingham, EnglandEducation, Nottingham, England

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nBackgroundBackground

40 years in UK Schools40 years in UK Schools Initially for age 16 to 18 academic Initially for age 16 to 18 academic

studentsstudents Later for all ages 7 to 18 and all abilitiesLater for all ages 7 to 18 and all abilities

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nThe Initial IntroductionThe Initial Introduction

Part of a specialist mathematics coursePart of a specialist mathematics course An alternative to theoretical mechanicsAn alternative to theoretical mechanics Suitable for students of biology, Suitable for students of biology,

geography & economicsgeography & economics Content classical mathematical statistics Content classical mathematical statistics

- probability, distributions, hypothesis - probability, distributions, hypothesis testing, correlation & regressiontesting, correlation & regression

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nTwo TrendsTwo Trends

Disappointment with the course for 16 - Disappointment with the course for 16 - 18 year olds18 year olds

Rise of modern mathematics in Rise of modern mathematics in secondary schoolssecondary schools

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nDisappointmentDisappointment

Emphasised mathematics rather than Emphasised mathematics rather than statisticsstatistics

Did not develop practical skillsDid not develop practical skills Was not as much use to other subject Was not as much use to other subject

areas as hopedareas as hoped

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nInto the Main SchoolInto the Main School

Education for everyone (Education for everyone (Half our Future)Half our Future) Emphasis on numeracy - using number Emphasis on numeracy - using number

in practicein practice Simple probability and statistical Simple probability and statistical

representation in secondary schoolsrepresentation in secondary schools Collecting and interpreting data in Collecting and interpreting data in

primary schoolsprimary schools

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Schools Council Project on Schools Council Project on Statistical EducationStatistical Education

RSS initiativeRSS initiative 6 year programme costing then £250k 6 year programme costing then £250k

(say 1.6 million Euros today)(say 1.6 million Euros today) What is statistics? Why teach it? Who What is statistics? Why teach it? Who

and how teach it?and how teach it? Develop teaching materialsDevelop teaching materials

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nWhat is Statistics?What is Statistics?

What statisticians do!!What statisticians do!! Statistics is a practical subject devoted Statistics is a practical subject devoted

to obtaining and processing data with a to obtaining and processing data with a view to making statements which often view to making statements which often extend beyond the data. These extend beyond the data. These statements are called inferences.statements are called inferences.

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Why Teach Statistics to All?Why Teach Statistics to All?

Statistics is an integral part of our cultureStatistics is an integral part of our culture Statistical thinking is an essential part of Statistical thinking is an essential part of

numeracynumeracy Exposure to real data can aid personal Exposure to real data can aid personal

development and decision makingdevelopment and decision making Statistical ideas are widely used at work after Statistical ideas are widely used at work after

schoolschool Early exposure can give sound intuition, later Early exposure can give sound intuition, later

formalisedformalised

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Who and how? - Two Who and how? - Two Distracting ReasonsDistracting Reasons

Statistics is an essential part of present Statistics is an essential part of present day mathematicsday mathematics

Statistics is useful to many other parts Statistics is useful to many other parts of the school curriculumof the school curriculum

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nTwo Global Aims -Two Global Aims -

The role of statistics in society - the The role of statistics in society - the many and various fields in which many and various fields in which statistical ideas are usedstatistical ideas are used

The nature of statistical thinking - the The nature of statistical thinking - the power and limitations of statistical power and limitations of statistical thoughtthought

Pupils should become aware of and appreciatePupils should become aware of and appreciate

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Mathematics Counts - The Mathematics Counts - The Cockcroft reportCockcroft report

Government enquiry into teaching of Government enquiry into teaching of mathematics (early 1980’s)mathematics (early 1980’s)

Influential in later developmentsInfluential in later developments Evidence given by RSSEvidence given by RSS Major references to statistics - Major references to statistics -

especially §§775 & 781especially §§775 & 781

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n§775§775

Statistics is not just a set of techniques, Statistics is not just a set of techniques, it is an attitude of mind in approaching it is an attitude of mind in approaching data. In particular it acknowledges the data. In particular it acknowledges the fact of uncertainty and variability in data fact of uncertainty and variability in data collection. It enables people to make collection. It enables people to make decisions in the face of this uncertainty.decisions in the face of this uncertainty.

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n§781§781

Statistical numeracy requires a feel for Statistical numeracy requires a feel for numbers, an appreciation of levels of numbers, an appreciation of levels of accuracy, the making of sensible estimates, accuracy, the making of sensible estimates, a common sense approach to data in a common sense approach to data in supporting an argument, the awareness of supporting an argument, the awareness of the variety of interpretation of figures and a the variety of interpretation of figures and a judicious understanding of widely used judicious understanding of widely used concepts such as mean and percentages. concepts such as mean and percentages. All these are part of everyday living.All these are part of everyday living.

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The First National Curriculum The First National Curriculum in Mathematicsin Mathematics

Mid ‘80sMid ‘80s For all ages 5 to 16For all ages 5 to 16 Reflected CockcroftReflected Cockcroft About 25% on data handling, little About 25% on data handling, little

probabilityprobability Flawed by assessmentFlawed by assessment

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Current Proposals for the Current Proposals for the National CurriculumNational Curriculum

RSS involvementRSS involvement Slightly less statisticsSlightly less statistics More practical and investigational in More practical and investigational in

approachapproach Based an investigational cycleBased an investigational cycle

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nThe CycleThe Cycle

Specify the Specify the ProblemProblem

Interpret & Interpret & DiscussDiscuss

Process & Process & RepresentRepresent

Collect Collect DataData

PlanPlan

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nContent linked to the CycleContent linked to the Cycle

Pupils should be taught to carry out Pupils should be taught to carry out every aspect of the Handling Data every aspect of the Handling Data CycleCycle

Communicate mathematically using Communicate mathematically using diagrams linked to related explanatory diagrams linked to related explanatory texttext

Make decisions about problem solving Make decisions about problem solving strategies to use in their statistical workstrategies to use in their statistical work

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Links to Use in SocietyLinks to Use in Society

Through problems and investigations gain Through problems and investigations gain insight into how statistics are used in real life insight into how statistics are used in real life to make informed decisionsto make informed decisions

Pupils should be introduced to important Pupils should be introduced to important uses of statistics in societyuses of statistics in society

Interpret statistics from society, including Interpret statistics from society, including index numbers (General Index of Retail index numbers (General Index of Retail Prices); time series (population growth) and Prices); time series (population growth) and survey data (National Census)survey data (National Census)

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RSS Outreach to General RSS Outreach to General PublicPublic

EducationalEducational Response to Government Consultation Response to Government Consultation

PapersPapers Public lectures and meetingsPublic lectures and meetings Media contactsMedia contacts

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nEducationalEducational

Associate School ProgrammeAssociate School Programme Workshops for teachersWorkshops for teachers Local MeetingsLocal Meetings Representation on Working Parties and Representation on Working Parties and

Development GroupsDevelopment Groups Support for the RSS Centre for Support for the RSS Centre for

Statistical EducationStatistical Education

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Response to Government Response to Government InitiativesInitiatives

New Centres for teaching and learningNew Centres for teaching and learning Institute for learning and teachingInstitute for learning and teaching Environment and PollutionEnvironment and Pollution Official StatisticsOfficial Statistics

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nPublic Lectures and MeetingsPublic Lectures and Meetings

The Beveridge lecture on social issuesThe Beveridge lecture on social issues Unemployment measuresUnemployment measures

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nMedia ContactsMedia Contacts

There is a list of members who can be There is a list of members who can be called on by the Press and other media called on by the Press and other media for informed statistical comment on any for informed statistical comment on any major issue of the day.major issue of the day.

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nAnd the Work ContinuesAnd the Work Continues