Experiences in Advanced Placement Statistics

• Activity Number: 174
• Type: Topic Contributed
• Date/Time: Tuesday, August 13, 2002 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Section on Statistical Education*
• Author(s): Chris Krow*+ and Nancy Adams*+ and Janice Ricks*+ and Susan Peters*+
• Affiliation(s): Wyomissing Area High School and Conestoga High School and Marple Newtown High School and Twin Valley High School
• Keywords: Advanced Placement ; activities ; introductory statistics ; education ; teaching ; simulation

Abstract

Advanced Placement (AP) Statistics gives high school students an opportunity to study introductory statistics and demonstrate their mastery on the AP Statistics exam. Many US colleges and universities grant academic credit to students who score well. AP Statistics mirrors the content of a college-level introductory statistics course. Students in AP Statistics study the design of surveys and experiments, exploratory data analysis, estimation and hypothesis testing, as well as probability, simulation, and sampling distributions. High school teachers typically have more contact hours with their students than college faculty, and many are able to incorporate into their classes hands-on activities, simulations, and frequent use of real data and technology. Interest in the AP Statistics course has grown rapidly, and many teachers do not have extensive experience with statistics, so it is vital for teachers to share what they know and learn about AP Statistics. The teachers on this panel will discuss their experiences teaching AP Statistics, and they will describe the paths they have taken to master the content and pedagogical objectives of the AP statistics course.