Subject: RE: normal table use in elementary statistics?
From: Karen Estes (estesk@email.spjc.cc.fl.us)
Date: Wed Sep 27 2000 - 16:33:44 EDT
Hi All,
I use ActivStats by Paul Velleman in my Elementary Statistics class. The
"Density Tool" finds the areas for the students. I make them draw the
diagram before they use the tool, mostly to make sure they have hit the TAB
key for the tool to register the mean and standard deviation. In my
opinion, the density tool is not only more efficient that a table, it
reinforces the area concept each time the students use it. Also, there is
a toggle that allows students to look at the real units (for example
heights of adult women) and the corresponding z-scores.
Karen
At 02:54 PM 9/27/00 , you wrote:
>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
>>
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Karen A. Estes, Ph.D
St. Petersburg Junior College
Tarpon Springs Center
600 Klosterman Road
Palm Harbor, FL 34683
Office: (727) 712-5723
Fax: (727) 712-5861
email: estesk@spjc.edu
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