MTHED 431Data Analysis in Secondary School Mathematics

3 credits · Mathematics Education · Penn State

Intense development of foundations of data analysis for secondary mathematics as a process using statistical concepts for predictions and inferences. MTHED 431 Data Analysis in Secondary School Mathematics (3) As prospective secondary mathematics teachers, students will develop broad and deep understanding of measures of and representations for center, measures of spread, distribution, and correlation. They will become fluent in using dynamic statistics programs, various physical models, and representations to convey the essence of these statistical concepts to secondary school students. They will compare various statistical methods and measures and make and defend claims both in terms of the discipline and in terms of how these ideas unfold for learners in school mathematics. They will connect these statistical concepts to the broader study of secondary school mathematics.In particular, students will see data analysis as a process. It involves the systematic application of statistical techniques, as well as logical techniques, to summarize, interpret, and compare data. Although the emphasis of the course will be on statistical concepts, one of the main themes of the course will involve understandings the mathematical structure of these statistical concepts. For example, students should be able to answer, from a mathematical perspective, why some data analysis techniques are more useful than other techniques.Intended as an elective for students in Secondary Education/Mathematics Education, the course helps students both to enrich and apply the pedagogical ideas and technology uses from their methods courses and to connect their collegiate mathematics experiences to school curricula. In particular, it helps to build prospective teachers' understanding of statistics as a vital part of secondary mathematics. Class activities involve use of physical manipulatives and mathematics technology (e.g., spreadsheets, dynamic statistics environments, and graphing calculators), as appropriate.Students in this course would be expected to complete weekly assignments and exams and to participate in classroom investigations of statistical concepts. Course grades depend on students' performance on all of these measures.