Online Statistics Courses for Middle and High School Teachers

Paul Myers will be delivering a series of four online statistics courses for middle and high school teachers through a joint grant with NASA and Georgia Tech.  The series is entitled “Don't Show Me the Numbers; Make Sense of the Information.”  There is no charge for the courses.  To register go to http://nasaepdn.gatech.edu/rt3/ and scroll down to the section on Statistics to start your application.  Information about the courses is given below.

Course 1: Surveys and One Variable Data

Dates: September 14 – October 18, 2011 or February 29 – April 3, 2012

This course focuses on deepening the understanding of one-variable exploratory data analysis and lays the foundations for sampling and inference. Participants will learn to use various tools for data collection.   The culminating task will be completing a plan for conducting a survey to gather, analyze, and interpret data that will answer a self-designed statistical question.

Course length: 5 weeks | PLU's awarded: 2.5

Course 2: Observations, Experiments and Two Variable Data

Dates: October 26 – November 22, 2011 or April 18 – May 15, 2012

This course focuses on differentiating among data collecting avenues (experiments, observations, and sample surveys) and representing, analyzing and interpreting two-variable data.  The culminating task will be completing a plan for conducting an experimental to gather, analyze, and interpret data that will answer a self-designed statistical question.

Course length: 4 weeks | PLU's awarded: 2.0

Course 3: Probability

Dates: January 25 – February 21, 2012

This course reviews the probability of simple and compound events, explores conditional probability, and then introduces random variables and the properties their probability distribution. Participants are guided in their studies through simulations, videos, online readings, practice exercises, and electronic tools. For each topic of study, participants will craft assessment questions that they could use in their classroom. The culminating task will be designing and conducting a simulation for a scenario of interest.

Course length: 4 weeks | PLU's awarded: 2.0

Course 4: Implementing Your Statistical Knowledge

Dates: January 11 – end of semester, 2012

Over the course of a semester participants will design a unit to be used in their classroom.  This course involves pedagogical course work that will be done within the course management system and more real-world application work.

Course length: 4 weeks (over 12 weeks) | PLU's awarded: 2.0