Geogebra in Teaching Introductory Statistics

Abstract

This article discusses the special opportunities for teaching statistics that technology offers teachers who aim to provide rich learning experiences for their students. These opportunities involve automation of many activities such as quickly organising data, computing measures, and generating graphs. By automating the tasks of computing statistics or generating data, technology facilitates students' ability to visualise abstract concepts, affording an opportunity to focus on conceptual understandings and data analysis. This article also examines how GeoGebra can be integrated into the curriculum and learning process of introductory statistics to engage college students in cycles of investigation including (a) managing data, (b) developing students' knowledge for understanding specific statistical concepts, (c) performing data analysis and inference, and(d) exploring probability models. Recommendations are included for ways mathematics educators can engage college learners in developing their knowledge for exploring data concepts and doing statistics with GeoGebra.