The Auckland Mathematical Association (AMA) and the Department of Statistics ran a special event at The University of Auckland’s Tamaki campus for 350 Year 13 statistics teachers. Statistics Teachers’ Day, on November 22, introduced the teachers to a range of online and interactive tools and resources to support the new statistics curriculum, which starts in the 2013 school year. The workshop will be repeated in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, with local maths associations running each event. Find out more about the statistics road tour here.
See photos and read teachers’ feedback from the day:
Jason Ellwood of Otumoetai College talks bootstrapping at Statistics Teachers’ Day.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz. ©The University of Auckland.
Sharleen Forbes of Victoria University outlines statistics education past, present and future in the plenary session of Statistics Teachers’ Day.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz. ©The University of Auckland.
Simon Webster,
ACG New Zealand International College:
“What stood out for me was the plenary talk by Sharleen Forbes [Adjunct Professor of Official Statistics, School of Government, Victoria University of Wellington], which gave us pointers to where things are heading [in statistics]. That appeals to the futurist in me.”
Sharleen Forbes.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz. ©The University of Auckland.
Pravina Ali
Westlake Girls’ High School:
“I absolutely loved the plenary session, where we found out about the history of statistics education – I can use that as a starter for my class. I have used Gapminder, which was discussed in that first session, and my girls loved it – seeing data in picture form is what makes statistics meaningful for them.”
Chris Wild, Department of Statistics, The University of Auckland.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz. ©The University of Auckland.
Gillian Crowe
Westlake Girls’ High School:
“It’s opened my eyes to how many people were involved in statistics education and the development of the statistics curriculum over time. I’m seeing the big picture today, and that’s reassuring.”
Marion Steel, The University of Auckland.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz. ©The University of Auckland.
Linda Boubee-Hill
Tauranga Girls’ College:
“A lot of the things I learned at Uni [in statistics] have changed – teachers have to get up to speed very quickly [with the new curriculum]. What’s been valuable for me is to see the thinking of the teachers who developed the new curriculum and get an idea of how we can implement it at the chalk face.”
Dru Rose, Westlake Girls’ High School, takes a break.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz.
©The University of Auckland.
Colin Spurdle of Papatoetoe High School takes a workshop on randomisation.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz.
©The University of Auckland.
Sophie Wright of Mt Roskill Grammar School runs A Beginner’s Guide to Randomisation.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz.
©The University of Auckland.
Michelle Dalrymple, Cashmere High School, discusses teaching sample-to-population inference.
Photo: Stephen Barker, www.barkerphotography.co.nz.
©The University of Auckland.
Logan LeeBotany Downs Secondary College:“I’ve been teaching calculus to NCEA Level 2, but next year will be my first year teaching Year 13 statistics. I feel I have a lot to learn from today’s sessions and from my colleagues. Statistics teaching is shifting from calculating statistics to interpreting them.”
Malcolm NuttallMt Albert Grammar School:“It’s fantastic for ideas and [to explore] the way students need to be thinking. It’s also encouraging as well – you think ‘I’m on the right track’.”
Sylvestre GahunguSt Pauls College:“What’s been useful is looking at the introduction of technology into the statistics curriculum and getting familiar with the new requirements of NCEA Year 13 statistics. The workshops are very interesting – the presenters know what they’re talking about.”
Lynee MataeleManurewa High School:“It’s been very useful because I’m interested in a data analysis programme that has been discussed here – INZight. I’m looking forward to having a play. It will make statistics easier to teach. Having a lot of hands-on activities and relating to real contexts makes things easier for students.”
Heral PatelOtahuhu College:“I went to a workshop on bootstrapping, which was very hands-on – that’s what the kids need, things they can play around with and practice on. There are 350 maths teachers here – I didn’t know there were so many of us!”
Josephina Ah SamRutherford College:“I’m teaching Year 13 stats next year, so I’m getting insights into what I need to know. The workshop on bootstrapping was quite cool, and [the] one on probability. It was cool getting to play stats games rather than just someone talking.”
