Promoting Quantitative Literacy by Helping Mathematics and Science Teachers Improve Their Skills in Teaching Statistics: The ASA's Meeting Within a Meeting (MWM) Program

• Activity Number: 464
• Type: Invited
• Date/Time: Thursday, August 7, 2008 : 8:30 AM to 10:20 AM
• Sponsor: Advisory Committee on Teacher Enhancement
• Author(s): Katherine T. Halvorsen*+ and Nari Carter*+ and Aleisha Coleman*+ and Jenna Mortensen*+ and Rebecca Nichols*+
• Companies: Smith College and Brigham Young University and Navigator Pointe Academy and Brigham Young University and The American Statistical Association
• Keywords: Quantitative Literacy ; Teaching Statistics ; K-12 ; MWM ; GAISE

Abstract

It is widely agreed by educators that students in middle school are at the greatest risk of opting out of quantitative subjects and that it is in middle school where the "I don't do math" attitude emerges. Prompted in part by the Federal "No Child Left Behind" legislation, many states have recently strengthened their K-12 quantitative literacy requirements. However, many teachers have been "left behind" since their quantitative skills need to be brought up-to-date. The mission of ASA's MWM program is to help middle school mathematics and science teachers teach statistics in accordance with their state's education standards for quantitative literacy and with ASA's GAISE recommendations. In this session a panel of program participants will present an overview of MWM and a year-long follow-up program. The panel and audience will discuss ways to improve and to expand the program.