Page 307 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS249 Terán, Teresita

A discussion about the teaching of statistics at all
levels in an Argentinian province
Terán, Teresita
Veterinary Sciences University – National University of Rosario. Rosario. Santa Fe Province.
Argentina

Abstract
The dynamic nature of statistics requires a continuous investigation of
contents and teaching methods at different educational levels. Technology,
for its part, is currently influencing what and how to teach; producing a
constant revision and analysis of contents, which are conditioned by the
previous hypotheses that determine learning. What kind of teaching practices
on probability and statistics should be implemented to promote statistical
knowledge? how do we foster the critical statistical sense on our students’
learning?, what contents on probability and statistics could promote intra-
mathematical mainstreaming and interdisciplinarity fostering the work based
on projects? Nowadays, in this ever-changing and unpredictable society,
statistical education is taking place in a new social context. This one is
influenced by a movement of teaching reform of mathematical sciences in
general.

Keywords
Statistics, Teaching, Educational level

1. Introduction
As teachers we should reflect upon the best way to prepare young people
and what the contents and subjects we should teach are, since the contents
that we consider important today, most probably will not be so in the coming
years. Let’s remember the transitions from manual calculations to calculators
and then to computers. Another question arises then: What are the
competences students need for their future performance, not only for their
daily life but also for their professional life? On this respect Moore claims: “The
reason why there should be substantial changes on statistical teaching is
because there is a strong synergy between the contents, pedagogy and
technology. Statisticians who teach at introductory levels should familiarize
themselves not only with investigations on teaching and learning, but also with
changes on educational technology. The spirit of instruction upon
contemporary statistics will have to be very different from the traditional one
which made emphasis on explanations and on probability and inference.”
Probability and statistics are two very important components in our culture
and in many of our specific sciences. They should be part of the basic cultural
294 | I S I W S C 2 0 1 9