Statistical Worksheets with Applets

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Statistical Worksheets with Applets

• MAA Spring Meeting
• March 12, 2005
• Supported by NSF-DUE 0126682

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Technology in Statistics

• Allows Visualization
• Allows Computation
• Mean, Standard Deviation, Random Samples
• Least squares line
• Allows Case Studies/Data Exploration
• Minitab for exploring extended applications
• Simple Data Mining activities

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But Technology also leads to

• A Disjointed Combination of Different Media
• Textbook and Exercises are PencilPaper
• Supplements are placed on the web
• Minitab/ActiveStats are often stand alone
  activities
• Lots of Material that cannot be Assessed
• Tests and Quizzes remain pencilpaper
• Applets primarily for Illustration
• Worksheet Assignments often mean Grade inflation

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Avoiding the Pitfalls

• Learning must be active
• Applets must be integrated into assignments
• Minitab, Maple, etc. must require some element of
  creativity
• Students must be engaged
• Create active learning environment
• Require regular interactive assignments

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Implementation at ETSU

• About 1200 students each semester
• Idea is introduced in a classroom setting
  (the Mansion)
• Online homework assignments require interaction
  and exploration of assignment
• Next class meeting is in the statistics
  laboratory (The Stat Cave )
• Stat Cave is for extensive Minitab Application

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Benefits and Shortcomings

• Expected Benefits
• Improved performance in gen. ed. experience
• Better comprehension of statistics concepts
• Better interaction between faculty and students
• A Few Problems
• High computer use leads to many computer repairs
• Scheduling
• Serving online courses

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Unintended Benefits

• Service to other departments
• Sections for other disciplines in which their
  preferred stat package is used instead of Minitab
• Specialized training for specific populations
• Computer Science Laboratory Experiences
• Sociology/Psychology sections
• Biology-specific section
• Improved retention and better attitudes

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The Course Site

• New Web Site being Developed
• Current web site is at http//www.etsu.edu/math/se
  ier/1530/1530link.htm
• Lets take a look!

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The Next Step

• GOAL To develop online worksheets that
  incorporate all 4 stages
• Amenable for Lecture
• Based on interactive exercises with applets
• Utilize Minitab data
• Include an assessment component
• (Actually, Minitab experience will not be
  replaced, only augmented)

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SWAPPLETS!

• Statistics Worksheets with Applets
• Pronounced (swop-lets)
• Sample at http//faculty.etsu.edu/knisleyj/swapple
  ts/
• Must complete exercises on each page before you
  can move to the next
• Last Page of Swapplet has exercises and email box
  so results can be sent to instructor

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Thank you!

• Any Questions?