Mastery Assessment in Teaching Statistics

Mastery Assessment in Teaching Statistics Dora Cardenas Ahmadi Morehead State University

Three Ways • Projects • Homework Assignments • Testing

Projects • Partner Selection • The assignment • Assessment

Partner Selection • Students selected their groups. • Their selection of partners was based on major and/or friendship. • Groups consisted of two or three students.

The Project • Collect data or use existing data; • write a report; • summarize the report on a poster; • present an oral summary of the report.

The Question or Experiment • Each group was asked to design and perform a statistical experiment or come out with a question.

The Question or Experiment • Questions were preferably related to their major. • Design a plan to collect the data that will help answer their question.

Question • For the most part, a student in a group showed interest in a question and convinced others in the group to go along with it. • Questions were related either to their field of study or a course they were taking that semester. • Overall their experiences were positive.

Report • describe the problem as posed; • thoroughly explain the findings including all assumptions, interpretations and important calculations; • cite any outside resources used;

Report (cont.) • discuss any related ideas or questions that have been raised by the examination of the question; and • when appropriate, do use units of measurement.

Parts of the Report • Front Materials: Include at least a title page, table of contents with page numbers, a list of tables and a list of figures. • Nature and background of the study: Include an introductiondescribing the purpose of the study; it should include the questions to be studied and why they are of interest to the group. • Review of Literature

Parts of Report -Methodology • A discussion of the design of the study • Identify the population to be studied. • Identify the variable(s) of interest. • Describe the method of obtaining their sample and the factors considered in deciding a method of sampling. Include ways of insuring randomness.

Methodology- cont. • Describe data collection. If measuring is involved describe measuring tools and precision. • Set up null hypothesis, alternative hypothesis, and level of significance to be used.

Data Analysis – Descriptive Statistics • MINITAB or other statistical package was used to perform a descriptive analysis including graphical representations of data. Each table or graph was embedded in the report, it was numbered, and it was described in words.

Inferential Statistics • Construct at least one confidence interval for a population parameter of interest. Use MINITAB to run a hypothesis test and include MINITAB output of your hypothesis test(s). Each table or graph should embedded in the report and should be described in words. Make sure that the claim to be tested is clearly stated in words.

Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations • Students were directed to state a conclusion that follows from their hypothesis test. Emphasis is placed on the fact that the conclusion should include answer(s) to the question(s) addressed by their study.

Bibliography and Appendix • Bibliography • List of sources used in designing the experiment and writing the report. MINITAB or software used • Appendix • Any questionnaire(s) used and compiled data.

Assessment Checkpoints scheduled throughout the semester • Group Selection • Question to be investigated • Data collection • Descriptive analysis • Inferential analysis

Mastery Assessment • Draft report • Draft Power Point • Drafts were submitted multiple times and feedback was provided. • A few meetings with groups were scheduled in class. • Most meetings with groups were scheduled out of class.

Students’ Evaluation • Students found their projects were useful in understanding statistical concepts. • They felt that they learned a lot from the social interactions. • They reported that the concepts became tangible while working on their projects.

Homework Assignments • From submitted and graded paper homework • To online homework- Hawkes Learning System- Mastery Learning Approach

Benefits of Online Homework • Students taking interest in their own learning • Students learning to ask questions that aid in helping understand mathematical concepts • Students becoming better readers • Improved self-esteem • Increased level of participation

Mastery Testing • Paper Testing • Select topics for testing • Allow students to achieve mastery in each topic • Grading M- mastery, P- progress to mastery, H- need help • Retesting allowed until the end of the semester.

Pros and Cons • Grading is easy. • There is no question about how grades are obtained. • Students take interest in learning. • Writing tests is time consuming. • There is a need for record keeping per student per question per exam

Testing with Technology Students are allowed to retest until they are satisfied with their performance.

Closing Remarks • Mastery assessment • encourages students to take interest in learning. • Empowers them to achieve better results.

Mastery Assessment in Teaching Statistics