Subject: RE: normal table use in elementary statistics?
From: rosenthi@pbcc.cc.fl.us
Date: Wed Sep 27 2000 - 14:54:46 EDT
I have also wondered about this problem. I wonder if the normal
distribution tables are now a thing of the past, just like the log tables.
I do spend very valuable class time in explaining how to find areas from (a
non-cumulative) table, and require that students do a graph each time. I
don't think that it is a total waste of time to teach them how to use the
table - they do learn some skills out of it. But the question I have is:
can we teach them more valuable skills (statistics related) by saving time
with the calculator?
Ira
-----Original Message-----
From: Martha Haehl [mailto:haehl@kcmetro.cc.mo.us]
Sent: Tuesday, September 26, 2000 7:46 AM
To: Colleen Ryan; mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu
Cc: Philip Abramoff; John Andrich; Mark Bates; Steve Hall; alan hayashi;
david magallanes; john norbutas; maria parker; Irene Peters; Rena
Petrello
Subject: Re: normal table use in elementary statistics?
I would use both and first present the information (with a simple problem)
on the TI-83, then immediately (the same class period) have students fill in
the table by hand to see where the numbers come from. I would in this
manner do both approaches at the same time on 2 or 3 problems before moving
to technology approaches.
Martha
> I have been teaching statistics for years using the normal table. I use
the
> one that Moore does with the areas cumulative from the left. Many of my
> students now have TI-83s. These TI-83s can give table areas (cumualative
> from the left) or z values from left areas. They can even figure out
> scores (like IQs or women's heights) using the TI-83 normal feature.
>
> Do you think I should still teach them how to use the normal table to do
> the problems or is this approach too old fashioned? If they use a TI-83 I
> guess I worry that they won't really understand what is going on and they
> will have trouble later in the course when things become more complicated.
>
> What do you think?
> 1. Use only the table and formula for z
> 2. Use only the TI-83 approach.
> 3. Use both.
>
> If you pick number 3, which do you think should be taught first? On which
> method should emphasis be placed?
>
> Colleen Ryan
> Oxnard College
> Southern California
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Send instant messages & get email alerts with Yahoo! Messenger.
> http://im.yahoo.com/
>
>
****************************************************************************
> * To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu
*
> * To unsubscribe, send mail to: mathedcc-unsubscribe@archives.math.utk.edu
*
> * Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/
*
>
****************************************************************************
>
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: mathedcc-unsubscribe@archives.math.utk.edu *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************
****************************************************************************
* To post to the list: email mathedcc@archives.math.utk.edu *
* To unsubscribe, send mail to: mathedcc-unsubscribe@archives.math.utk.edu *
* Archives at http://archives.math.utk.edu/hypermail/mathedcc/ *
****************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b28 : Wed Sep 27 2000 - 14:47:52 EDT