ERIC Number: EJ1083112
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 26
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: EISSN-1069-1898
EISSN: N/A
Teachers and Textbooks: On Statistical Definitions in Senior Secondary Mathematics
Dunn, Peter K.; Marshman, Margaret; McDougall, Robert; Wiegand, Aaron
Journal of Statistics Education, v23 n3 2015
The new "Australian Senior Secondary Curriculum: Mathematics" contains more statistics than the existing Australian Curricula. This case study examines how a group of Queensland mathematics teachers define the word "statistics" and five statistical terms from the new curricula. These definitions are compared to those used in some commonly-used Queensland mathematics textbooks and in the glossaries of new "Australian Senior Secondary Curriculum: Mathematics." The findings of this study suggest that many teachers do not have a good understanding of statistical concepts and that they rely on procedural definitions (instrumental understanding). This is reflected in the presentation of statistics in Queensland senior secondary mathematics textbooks. Definitions in the glossaries of the new curricula are generally better but perhaps other simpler concepts could be introduced first to develop relational understanding.
Descriptors: Foreign Countries, Secondary School Curriculum, Statistics, Mathematics Instruction, Definitions, Textbooks, Textbook Content, Secondary School Mathematics, Mathematical Concepts, Mathematics Teachers, Surveys
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A