Popular game shows offer educators the opportunity to develop active-learning exercises that provide students with a real-world connection to analytical reasoning and methods. We describe a classroom assignment developed for quantitative business courses based on the Monty Hall Problem (MHP), a probability puzzle with ties to the long-running…

Most likely a large number of students have heard of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), and know that they are a phenomenon in the sky. Although they may not have seen the Northern Lights, most have probably seen other phenomena in the sky, such as a rainbow, shooting star, or super moon. These experiences provide an opportunity for students…

Understanding the roles of random selection and random assignment in experimental design is a central learning objective in most introductory statistics courses. This article describes an activity, appropriate for a high school or introductory statistics course, designed to teach the concepts, values and pitfalls of random selection and assignment…

In the criminal justice system, defendants accused of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Statistical inference in any context is built on an analogous principle: The null hypothesis--often a hypothesis of "no difference" or "no effect"--is presumed true unless there is sufficient evidence against it. In this…

This new addition to Math Solutions "Supporting English Language Learners in Math Class series" offers a wealth of lessons and strategies for modifying grades 6-8 instruction. Section I presents an overview of teaching math to English learners: the research, the challenges, the linguistic demands of a math lesson, and specific strategies and…

This booklet suggests activities that reflect findings from recent educational research on curriculum, assessment, and instruction, as well as the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics Standards pertaining to probability and statistics. Each teacher's guide for the 13 hands-on activities includes objectives stemming from NCTM…

A computer program that allows students to simulate an experiment in probability is given, with specific suggestions on how to use and study the program. (MNS)

Student access to programmable calculators and computer terminals, coupled with a familiarity with baseball, provides opportunities to enhance their understanding of the binomial distribution and other aspects of analysis. (MP)

Describes several activities of the Data and Chance program involving third and fourth graders. Students use real-life situations to investigate probability. (MKR)

The probability of selecting two matching socks is discussed. (MNS)

Suggests a technique for use in teaching science students how to gather and analyze statistical data. (FL)

Techniques that students can use to make predictions about performances in the Olympics include point estimation. This is used to estimate a single value using a set of data. A worksheet for students is included. (MNS)

Examines ways to integrate a discussion of lotteries into a lesson on combinatorics and probability to enhance the teaching and learning of number sense. (Author/MKR)

Four answers to a probability problem involving a perceived coincidence are discussed. (MNS)

A random arrangement of two contrasting colors in a 20x20 array is used to facilitate students' understanding of the notions of randomness, independence, and long-run frequency. It can also be used to test some prevalent errors in probabilistic reasoning. Three activities are described. (MNS)