University of Otago statistician John Harraway and Otago
Girls' High School mathematics head Jeanette Chapman are
figuring out a way to make statistics much more fun. Photo
by Peter McIntosh.
Some people find statistics utterly dull, but University
of Otago statistician John Harraway and 35 senior Dunedin
teachers are determined to prove them wrong.
Mr Harraway, who is a senior lecturer in the university's
mathematics and statistics department, is well aware that
some people, including quite a few school pupils, find
statistics "not very interesting".
But he begs to differ and highlights the vital role played by
statistics in analysing problems and helping overcome
challenges in many vital fields, including in human health
and environmental management.
Mr Harraway, who is president-elect of the International
Association for Statistics Education, is also well aware of
the bigger international picture.
New Zealand, he says, has already become a world leader
through the strong and growing emphasis given to the study of
statistics in our high schools.
"Other countries are envious of what we have achieved in New
Zealand."
He and Otago Girls' High School mathematics head Jeanette
Chapman have also been helping prepare something of a secret
weapon to make high school statistics more interesting.
He recently persuaded VSN International, an English-based
non-profit company, to offer a powerful but easy-to-use
statistical analysis software package - called GenStat
Teaching and Learning - for free use by every high school in
New Zealand.
The company may well believe that if many budding
statisticians and scientists come to know and like the
software, they will later opt to use the commercial version
in their postgraduate work at university.
About 35 high school mathematics teachers attended a "very
successful" recent workshop to outline the potential use of
the software, which Ms Chapman has been trialling at her
school for several months.
The software offer is a "hugely important development", he
says.
Pupils will be able to avoid some of the less interesting
mechanical work that was previously required, and to pursue
advanced analysis, making significant discoveries amid the
mass of data.
"It will enliven and enrich the teaching of statistics in our
schools," Ms Chapman said.
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