Interactive computer simulations are commonly used as pedagogical tools to support students' statistical reasoning. This paper examines whether and how these simulations enable their intended effects. We begin by contrasting two theoretical frameworks--"dual processes" and "grounded cognition"--in the context of people's…

This paper walks the reader through a simple mathematical characterization of the popular children's game, "Chutes and Ladders," focusing primarily on Monte Carlo simulation. The focus is then shifted to the board game "No Te Enojes" in order to analyze the implications of the introduction of strategy. The presence of strategy…

Statistical association is a key facet of statistical literacy: claims based on relationships between variables or ideas rooted in data are found everywhere in media and discourse. A key development in introductory statistics curricula is the use of simulation-based inference, which has shown positive outcomes for students, especially in regards…

Many education researchers have advocated grounding abstract mathematical and scientific concepts in students' lived experiences, environmental interactions, and perceptions. This dissertation explores the causal effects of various grounding strategies in instructional settings, specifically on the topic of statistical sampling. The first chapter…

Building on the need for developing educational responses to the impact of data practices in our everyday lives, a new curriculum called Nayah-Irú was designed and implemented in the context of five alternative schools in Uruguay. Nayah-Irú aimed at fostering Critical Data Literacy (CDL) using speculative civic literacies, helping youth and…

The influx of data and the advances in computing have led to calls to update the introductory statistics curriculum to better meet the needs of the contemporary workforce. To this end, we developed the COMputational Practices in Undergraduate TEaching of Statistics (COMPUTES) instrument, which can be used to measure the extent to which computation…

The majority of university students in the United Arab Emirates are English language learners. As a country that has only recently established its educational system based on an American model, it has adopted English as its language for teaching and learning. Challenges related to the use of a second language have been noted and simple…