Abstract:

The inferential statistics is the process of using the results obtained from samples to draw conclusions about the characteristics of a population. This allows us to estimate unknown characteristics such as the mean or the proportion of a population. In everyday life, everybody makes estimations for crossing the street, we see a car coming and we estimate its speed and the distance between us and the car in order to decide if we have to wait or we should run so as to cross the street. One of the reasons to make estimations as professional people is to take decisions based on a calculus, this means, an estimation. Estimations must be quick and precise since the results of these affect on the business or the company through the decision taken from the estimation. The parameters estimation is very useful tool in students professional performance. Within this context, we developed a web page with a virtual laboratory which proposes a study guide for the topic of Estimations that pretends to reorient and update the approach that should be used to deal when studying the statistical methods, raising the willing of learning and solving problems and study cases. The topic of estimations was developed in a way that the cases stated can be developed in learning environments that let the students to find the knowledge, “manipulate” it and make it theirs.
With this philosophy we use applets, internet sites with access to real data bases, free-use software and in general the resources from Web 2.0 that refer to a second generation in the history of the Web based on users’ communities that reinforce collaboration and the agile information exchange between them.

Keywords:

Estimation, inferential statistics, virtual laboratory.