Preparing K-12 Teachers Statistically--How can Statisticians and Teacher Preparation Programs Cultivate the Best Assemblage of Teachers?

• Activity Number: 40
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Sunday, August 3, 2003 : 4:00 PM to 5:50 PM
• Sponsor: ASA NCTM Joint Cmte on Curriculm in Stats and Probability
• Author(s): Michael Shaughnessy*+ and Patricia S. Wilson*+ and Roger W. Hoerl*+ and Linda J. Young*+
• Companies: Portland State University and University of Georgia and GE Corp Research & Development and University of Nebraska, Lincoln
• Keywords: teacher educators ; TEAMS ; MET report ; K-12 education

Abstract

Statistics is a hot topic in K-12 mathematics! The NCTM Standards and the NAEP Framework both emphasize probability and statistics, and the AP Statistics Program continues to expand rapidly. Building a nucleus of teachers who can effectively teach the data analysis called for at the K-12 level heavily depends on cooperation among statisticians and teacher educators. This need is outlined in the "The Mathematical Education of Teachers (MET) Report" released in 2001 by CBMS. The ASA is responding to the MET report by planning a leadership conference to be held in October 2003: Stat/Math TEAMS. The invited panel, which is composed of two math educators and two statisticians, will discuss views of the changing mathematics curriculum at the K-12 level as it relates to statistics. The panel will present possible models for effective preparation of teachers in the statistical arena. The goals of the inaugural TEAMS conference will also be discussed, particularly in regards to effective cooperation among stakeholders. The TEAMS conference is crucial to bettering statistical education for our children in the future--a Bridge to Discovery and Knowledge!