This exercise helps instructors teach students how to perform a simple event study. The study tests to see if stocks earn abnormal returns when added to the S&P 500. Students select a random sample of stocks that were added to the index between January 2000 and July 2015. The accompanying spreadsheet calculates cumulative abnormal returns and…

The body of literature on a Writing-to-Learn (WTL) approach in math courses offers up a variety of assignment types from which to choose. However, few of these articles provide empirical evidence on the ways these writing assignments contribute to students' learning. This mixed-methods study, conducted at the University of New Mexico, a…

Presents a quick and simple exercise that demonstrates what is meant by the term "statistically insignificant." Demonstrates the bell curve distribution, the relationship of a sample to the population it is supposed to estimate, and the t-test. (DDR)

Demonstrates the advantages of a p-value as compared with a standard significance test procedure. Contains examples in the discussion of testing the mean of a normal distribution and testing a probability of proportion. (DDR)

Describes how to incorporate the concept of significant figures into science activities to promote understanding. Provides helpful classroom examples using measurements of volume and length. (SAH)

Outlines the simple exercise of measuring the length of an object as a concrete paradigm of the entire process of making chemical measurements and treating the resulting data. Discusses the procedure, significant figures, measurement error, spurious data, rejection of results, precision and accuracy, and student responses. (TW)