ERIC Number: EJ1112938
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2016-Sep
Pages: 6
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0025-5769
EISSN: N/A
Correlation Revelation: The Search for Meaning in Pearson's Coefficient
Huhn, Craig
Mathematics Teacher, v110 n2 p98-103 Sep 2016
When the author was first charged with getting a group of students to understand the correlation coefficient, he did not anticipate the topic would challenge his own understanding, let alone cause him to eventually question the very nature of mathematics itself. On the surface, the idea seemed straightforward, one that millions of students across the country grasp each year. The author was comfortable with it himself--until he started planning for the unit. He began to think about what experiences he wanted his students to have around this topic; it was at that point things got a little dicey. This article tries to recreate his experience of self-discovery, of questioning and wondering, and ultimately of philosophy, that was spurred by planning a unit on the correlation coefficient. As the reader experiences the story with him, he hopes the reader can begin to consider things such as the teacher's role in curriculum design, what it means to study and learn mathematics, and the implications on the classroom. In this article, the author presents how lesson planning leads to a deeper consideration of what it means to study and learn mathematics.
Descriptors: Correlation, Mathematics, Mathematics Education, Mathematics Instruction, Teacher Role, Mathematical Concepts, College Entrance Examinations
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics. 1906 Association Drive, Reston, VA 20191. Tel: 800-235-7566; Tel: 703-620-9840; Fax: 703-476-2570; e-mail: NCTM@nctm.org; Web site: http://www.nctm.org/publications/mathematics-teacher/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: Teachers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: ACT Assessment; SAT (College Admission Test)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A